Environment Canada is forecasting a warmer-than-normal summer in southern Alberta, June 20, 2023. (File photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Above-normal temperatures forecast for southern Alberta this summer

Jun 20, 2023 | 1:30 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Environment Canada has released its 2023 summer weather outlook.

Meteorologist Sara Hoffman told LNN that the next few months will be hot.

“Our forecast for Lethbridge, including all of Alberta, is for higher-than-normal temperatures,” said Hoffman. “The difference in the forecast for southern Alberta versus northern Alberta is we’re expecting some lower-than-normal precipitation values for northern Alberta, and for southern Alberta, we’re looking at near-normal to above-normal precipitation.”

Hoffman said it is not clear how much warmer the temperatures will be in the region than normal, but she is confident that it will be above-normal.

According to Environment Canada, most of the country can expect higher-than-normal temperatures until at least the end of August.

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She adds that the warmer temperatures and increase in severe weather is due to the effects of climate change.

“With climate change, we do expect to see more intense and longer-lasting fire weather seasons. We’re certainly seeing that this year with the early start to the fire season in Alberta and the intensity of it,” said Hoffman.

While the summer is shaping up to be a warm one, Hoffman reports that spring was slightly cooler than normal in Lethbridge this year.

In 2023, she reports that the average temperature for March-May, including overnight lows and daytime highs, was five degrees Celsius. The 1981-2010 normal for that time period is 5.7 degrees.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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