Ontario set for a slow start to Spring with continued chances of snow
Ontario residents can expect a sluggish start to spring, with colder-than-normal temperatures and periods of snow and ice possibly persisting right through to April
Spring isn’t just a season in Canada—it’s the scenic route from winter to summer, and this year, it looks like we are in for a bit of a trek!
La Niña and the polar vortex teamed up to deliver a fickle, but high-impact winter to most of Canada. However, if winter has you longing for consistent warm weather, spring will once again test your patience.
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Spring never takes us on a straight path or smooth ride from winter to summer, but it looks like the journey this year will have more detours and backtracking than a typical spring. This will especially be the case during March and April. May is still quite a wild card in our spring forecast.
Ontario's 2026 Spring Forecast
Winter started early, and it does not appear to be in a hurry to leave as a sluggish start to spring is expected. Periods of mild spring weather are still expected, but warm weather will lack commitment through March and well into April. It appears that the mild spells will be offset by periods of colder weather. This should extend the ski season, but it could also delay the start of the growing season.
Near normal or above normal precipitation is expected through at least April.
No doubt this will include more snow and ice for much of the province including Toronto, Ottawa, and Thunder Bay. This could could have some impact on preparations for the start of the spring planting season.
However, as we look ahead to May, we are seeing strongly conflicting signals as to how the spring will continue to unfold. It is possible that a cooler pattern will dominate during much of the month of May. We are also watching the potential for a pattern reversal, which could result in a rather quick transition to early summer-like weather.
Provincial and territorial breakdown
Here is a more detailed look at what we expect across the rest of Canada this spring.
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British Columbia
The South Coast of B.C., including Vancouver and Victoria, is the one the region that missed out on significant winter weather this year. Periods of early spring-like weather occurred throughout the winter, but the second half of February has brought a transition to more typical late winter weather.
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Near seasonal temperatures should continue through early spring with an active pattern at times. That could allow for a stronger ending to a disappointing ski season and help to improve the alpine snowpack before the spring melt begins.
The alpine snowpack is much more substantial across the rest of the province, and a strong spring ski season is expected with periods of colder weather and above normal snowfall through April.
During May, we are watching the potential for a quick transition to a much warmer and drier conditions. If this occurs, then there would be a heightened risk for localized flooding in areas that are more prone to flooding during the spring melt.
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Alberta
This past winter was interrupted by an extended thaw, including record breaking warm temperatures. However, that has proven to be a false start to spring as winter weather returned with a vengeance across the province, including Calgary and Edmonton.
Early spring will continue to feature changeable temperatures as warm weather will continue to tease at times, but colder-than-normal conditions are expected to dominate during March and well into April. This should allow for an extended spring ski season in the Rockies.
Chilly temperatures and above normal precipitation (including more snow) could impact preparations for spring planting, but we expect spring will finish strong with a much warmer and drier pattern forecast to arrive during May. The downside, though, would be an increasing risk for wildfires before the start of summer.
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Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Classic Canadian winter weather showed up this year, but it was interrupted by periods of very mild weather. The mild weather during February has proven to be a false start to spring however, as more typical winter weather has returned across the region, including Saskatoon, Regina, and Winnipeg.
Early spring will continue to feature changeable temperatures, but colder-than-normal conditions are expected to dominate during March and April. Chilly temperatures, and above normal precipitation (including more snow) could impact preparations for spring planting. However, spring could finish strong with a warmer and drier pattern developing during May.
Quebec
Winter started very early this year, and it appears that it will finish strong with colder-than-normal temperatures forecast to dominate during March, and well into April. Very warm weather over the eastern U.S. will surge north at times and bring tastes of pleasant spring weather, but overall we expect a sluggish start to the season. This should allow for an extended spring ski season.
An active pattern through March and April should bring above normal precipitation totals (including snow, ice and rain) to western and southern parts of the province, including Montreal, and Quebec City.
May is still quite a wild card as there are strongly conflicting signals as to whether a cooler pattern will persist through much of the month versus whether a much warmer pattern will bring will arrive with the potential for a quick transition to early summer-like weather.
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New Brunswick, P.E.I., and Nova Scotia
A typical spring is expected across the Maritimes, including Fredericton, Halifax, and Charlottetown. This will include changeable temperatures with periods of mild weather that will be offset by periods chilly weather. The temperature roller coaster should not be as extreme as what we expect across most of western and central Canada.
An active storm track is expected during March and April, which should deliver near normal precipitation totals across the region, but parts of the region could end up with above normal precipitation totals through mid-April. The natural progression of the season will bring warmer weather during May, but at this point, don’t expect an abrupt transition to early summer weather.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Across Newfoundland and Labrador, we expect near normal conditions for the spring season. Of course, a typical spring includes changeable temperatures, with periods of mild weather offset by periods of late winter-like weather. However, the temperature roller coaster should not be as extreme as what we expect across much of western and central Canada.
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Spring tends to feature an active storm track, and this year should be no exception with near normal precipitation totals expected across the province, including St. John’s and Corner Brook. This will include the typical threat for significant late winter-like storms.
The natural progression of the season will bring warmer weather during May, but at this point don’t expect an abrupt transition to early summer weather.
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Northern Canada
Above normal temperatures are expected to dominate across Nunavut, including Iqaluit. Elsewhere, near normal temperatures are expected for most of the Northwest Territories (NWT) and Yukon territory, including Yellowknife and Whitehorse. Temperatures are expected to tip to the cold side of seasonal across southeastern parts of the Yukon territory, and the southwestern corner of the NWT. Keep in mind that "normal" changes very quickly through the season, rising by a few degrees every week.
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Near normal precipitation is expected across the region, but parts of the region could trend drier as we head into the beginning of summer.