Two months ago on Groundhog Day, life-sized mascot Balzac Billy predicted Alberta would get six more weeks of winter.

It was right — and then some.

On April 7, Edmontonians woke up to fresh overnight snow, making for a slower commute. This, after the existing winter snow accumulation hasn’t fully melted away yet.

Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Alysa Pederson said while we saw warmer-than-normal temperatures at the beginning of the year, cooler weather came back at the end of February and stuck around.

“In March, it was kind of above and below-normal, and all over the place. We are starting off April relatively cool from what we would normally suggest for springtime,” Pederson said.

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April snow heading to Alberta

Still, people itching for spring are gearing up for warmer weather.

At Salisbury Greenhouse in Sherwood Park, seedlings are growing and flowers are blooming. It’s a true escape from winter.

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Rob Sproule said while he is ready for warmer temperatures, snow later in the season is actually a good thing for gardeners.

“Looking at the amount of moisture we have been getting, it’s been snow, thaw, snow, thaw — and that’s wonderful. It gives you more moisture than the big snowpack,” Sproule said.

“Moisture that comes later in the spring, with a little thaw gets right into the roots and less of it flows off.

“It’s great moisture and it’s wet snow and it’s not going to stick around.”

It was a different story three years ago in 2023, when dozens of forest fires broke out across Alberta at the end of April and beginning of May.

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Alberta’s forestry minister ensures firefighter retention, preparedness better than 2023 amid wildfire season

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It was the start of a record-breaking wildfire season in Alberta and the most destructive fire season in recorded Canadian history.

The total number of fires was in line with the five-year average of 1,100 for the 2018-2022 period, but the total area burned was a 10-fold increase over the 190,000-hectare average for the same period.

Over the 2023 season, 48 Alberta communities and more than 38,000 people were evacuated due to forest fires.

Canada as a whole saw a record-breaking wildfire season that year, when more than 6,500 wildfires burned 18.5 million hectares (46 million acres) — about five per cent of the country’s entire forest area and about double the size of Portugal.

All 13 provinces and territories were affected to varying degrees, with tens of thousands of people evacuated and at least four firefighters killed.

Sproule isn’t keen for a repeat.

“The dry conditions have gotten a little scary the last couple years, so I embrace this.”

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Brace yourself, Canada: 10 to 30 centimetres of snow is expected to fall across a large region spanning from northeast B.C. to Ontario, courtesy of an Alberta clipper making its way across the country.

Alberta clippers are fast-moving, low-pressure systems that originate in Alberta, just east of the Rocky Mountains, tracks east- to southeastward across southern Canada and the northern United States.

Impacted areas of the Prairies —northeastern B.C.’s Peace region, a swath of Alberta north of Edmonton, in and around Prince Albert, Sask., and the Winnipeg area — are subject to yellow level snowfall warning alerts.

Environment Canada also issued special weather statements for Regina, Moose Jaw and Saskatoon stemming from the storm.

The system originated in west-central Alberta and is now bringing heavy snow across the Prairies.

It will end shy of Thunder Bay, Ont., a meteorologist with the federal weather monitor explained.

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Heavy snow, mixed precipitation, and thunderstorms are in the forecast.

Northern Alberta is expecting around 15 centimetres, according to Environment Canada.

Central Saskatchewan and Manitoba should see a maximum of 20 centimetres of snow, and the Parklands region of western Manitoba is expecting 15-30 centimetres.

“Any of the snow-free areas will be covered tonight,” said Danielle Desjardins, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“It’s going to look much more wintery than we would expect – given that it’s already April.”

This snow will taper from west to east, and in areas where only a special weather statement was issued without a snowfall alert, high temperatures will melt the snow as it falls. This precipitation is expected to come down as rain.

“As the system tracks to the east, it’s going to drag in some much colder air and temperatures will decrease to below zero. So that rain’s going to switch over to snow tonight,” explained Desjardins.

The Prairies can expect more wintery weather to follow, Desjardins said.

“This time of year, we do tend to see these types of systems track through because they can tap into a lot more energy and moisture with the warm temperatures to the south and the arctic air still remaining to the north,” she added.

“It’s still going to be a bit of a rollercoaster for the next week or so.”

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A large swath of southern Ontario is under a special weather statement as Environment Canada warns of heavy rainfall to start the Easter long weekend.

The federal weather agency issued the statement for regions like Toronto, saying total rainfall amounts of 25 to 50 millimetres is expected between Saturday morning and night.

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“A Colorado low will bring heavy rain to the area. The heaviest rain is expected to fall Saturday evening and Saturday night, with locally higher amounts possible in thunderstorms,” the statement reads.

“There remains some uncertainty where the highest rainfall amounts will occur. Rainfall warnings may follow as the event nears.”

Environment Canada added for information concerning flooding, local conservation authorities or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources office will have the latest information.

A late winter blast of snow is set to fall over parts of Quebec and Atlantic Canada just two days after the first official day of spring, with the first flakes starting on Sunday.

In Quebec, a total of nearly 10 centimetres of snow will fall on Sunday in parts of the Greater Montreal Area, Monteregie, Drummondville and Estrie.

Environment Canada says residents can expect the snowfall rates of two centimetres per hour at times.

Snowfall amounts of 10 to 15 cm are expected in much of Nova Scotia starting late Sunday afternoon, reaching from the southwestern shore around Digby over to Halifax counties.

The weather system is expected to reach the Halifax Regional Municipality by Sunday evening.

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The heaviest snow is forecast to fall Sunday evening and into Monday morning, with the potential for it to intensify again.

Environment Canada cautions the snow is expected to be wet and heavy as temperatures remain near the freezing mark.

Parts of northern Nova Scotia could see the snow start to move in early Monday morning, reaching Cape Breton by mid-morning. The snow will continue into Tuesday morning.

The weather agency adds that some parts of the Atlantic coast could see snow mix with ice pellets on Monday evening, but it’s uncertain where it will fall.

Even higher amounts of snow could hit Newfoundland on Monday, with yellow winter storm watches in place for the island’s southern, central and northeastern regions. Orange winter storm watches are in place for much of eastern Newfoundland.

The majority of the island is expected to see between 20 to 30 cm and northerly wind gusts of 80 to 100 km/h starting Monday night and continuing into Tuesday.

People are cautioned to be careful on the roads as visibility could be reduced to near zero at times.

Meanwhile, eastern Newfoundland could see between 30 to 50 cm of snow beginning Monday evening until Tuesday night. Wind gusts Tuesday could hit 60 km/h, but rise to between 80 and 100 km/h in the night.

Environment Canada warns the snow will transition to ice pellets and freezing rain to rain on Tuesday as temperatures rise above zero. A second period of poor visibility is possible on Tuesday night due to blowing snow as temperatures fall once again.

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Environment Canada is warning of heavy rain and strong winds across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Monday.

The federal weather agency says most of southern and central New Brunswick and western and eastern Nova Scotia will be impacted.

The system, which will bring 20 to 40 millimetres of rain and up to 70 km/h wind gusts, will begin in New Brunswick come the afternoon; up to 40 to 60 mm of rain is expected near the Fundy coast.

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It will dissipate by Tuesday afternoon.

“Two heavier pulses of rain are expected, with a break in the rain possible in the overnight hours early Tuesday morning,” Environment Canada said.

“Very mild temperatures will result in rapid melting of the remaining snowpack. Rainfall warnings have been issued for parts of southern New Brunswick, and these may be expanded in subsequent forecasts.”

In Nova Scotia, 30 to 50 mm of rain and up to 80 km/h wind gusts are expected to begin in the afternoon. The system will begin in western Nova Scotia before moving to the east coast by the evening.

“The rain and wind will end over western areas Tuesday afternoon and by Tuesday evening over eastern sections of the province,” Environment Canada said.

“Two heavier pulses of rain are expected, with a break in the rain possible in the overnight hours early Tuesday morning. Very mild temperatures will result in rapid melting of the remaining snowpack.”

The agency added residents should continue to monitor alerts and forecasts during the system.

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A slew of regions in Central and Eastern Canada are bracing for a series of storms that will bring flash flooding and freezing rain to parts.

Environment Canada said Tuesday that the systems will impact large parts of southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Toronto, one of the regions covered under the federal agency’s weather statement, may get 20 to 40 millimetres of rain through Wednesday. The system will move into the area Tuesday night.

“A series of low pressure systems will lead to significant rainfall across parts of southern Ontario. Heavy downpours may cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible,” Environment Canada said.

“Rainfall warnings may be issued for some areas as the event draws nearer.”

Meanwhile, Quebec is bracing for a “potentially critical freezing rain event” beginning Wednesday.

Environment Canada said 20 to 30 millimetres may fall by Thursday in Montreal, Montérégie, Outaouais, Lanaudière, Laurentians, Parc du Mont-Tremblant, Mauricie, Drummondville and Quebec City.

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“Conditions will remain cold in subsequent days, which may complicate and delay the full return to normal services. There will likely be transportation delays and cancellations,” Environment Canada said.

“Prolonged utility outages are likely. Significant damage to property, including some buildings and trees, is likely due to the weight of ice. Be very careful if walking or driving. Non-essential travel should be avoided.”

Eric Tomlinson, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, described the weather system as “potent” when speaking to reporters Tuesday.

“This is a potent weather system that will develop over the southern United States and then track northeastward into our sectors later this evening,” he said.

“Certainly the worst impacts were expecting to be along the Ottawa Valley and the Saint Lawrence Valley.”

In the Maritimes, a combination of snow, ice pellets, freezing rain and rain is expected.

Those in New Brunswick may see five to 15 millimetres of rain over a span of 10 to 18 hours starting Wednesday afternoon, Environment Canada said.

“A low pressure system is expected to bring a variety of wintry precipitation that will likely affect the region on Wednesday into Thursday. There remains some uncertainty in the exact track of this system but there is a high likelihood of a prolonged period of freezing rain with significant ice accumulations. A transition to rain is expected by midday Thursday,” it said.

“Accumulations of ice may create slippery and hazardous travel or walking conditions. Ice buildup on trees and utility infrastructure may cause damage or outages.”

Prince Edward Island will only see freezing rain for four to eight hours during that time, Environment Canada added.

Tomlinson said Canadians should keep tabs on Environment Canada’s forecasts and alerts for the latest updates.

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Environment Canada is warning that several parts of Quebec may experience “critical freezing rain” later this week.

The federal weather agency has issued a special weather statement for Greater Montreal, Montérégie, Outaouais, Laurentians, Lanaudière, Mauricie, Centre-du-Québec and the Quebec City region.

It said the system, which will bring total accumulations of 20 to 30 millimetres of freezing rain, will move into the region on Wednesday.

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“A potentially critical freezing rain situation is forecast,” Environment Canada said in its notice.

“The event could last up to 24 hours and paralyze some services.”

The agency added that conditions will remain cold afterwards, which may complicate and delay the full return to normal services.

“There will likely be transportation delays and cancellations,” Environment Canada said.

“Surfaces will become icy and increase the risk of falls and injuries. Prolonged power outages are likely. Ice accretion increases the risk of breaking tree branches. Consider delaying or cancelling any non-essential travel.”

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