Summer forecasted to bring hot, dry weather across the prairies

Farmers who are looking for a cool, wet growing season will be disappointed by the latest seasonal forecast from Environment Canada.

That's predicting a hot, dry summer across the country, though the prairies may not feel the worst of it.

Meteorologist Terri Lang says that the forecast may last well up to harvest.

"July, August, and September across the prairies are looking to be above average with respect to temperature. With respect to precipitation, our ability to forecast the long-range precipitation patterns isn't all that great, but the current forecast is showing that it's sort of in the northern parts of the provinces, it's forecast to be drier than average. Across the southern part, it's not showing a trend at all."

Environment Canada's summer temeprature forecast.

The drier weather will be a problem not just for farmers looking to get more rain, but could also pose a fire risk as those continue in the northern part of the province.

"I think the map is showing all of Canada is forecast to be above average. You know, last year we kind of had the situation where the big upper ridge that creates sort of where the jet stream is was sitting farther west so that Manitoba tended to be on the cooler side of things."

"This year that doesn't exist. So it looks like the trend will be warmer than average for all of Canada unfortunately, just because it's harder on the crops and with the drier pattern up north that will be difficult for forest fires as well."

While the prairies will have to contend with heat, areas out east and in northern Manitoba are likely to have to deal with a good bit more.

"Well  that's certainly what the overall trend is, they also tend to have to deal with humidity down that way as well. So it makes the heat a little bit harder to take in some respect."