The Weather Network is expecting Thunder Bay and northern Ontario to be affected by cooler air lingering over central Canada for the summer.
However, meteorologist Kelly Sonnenburg tells us that doesn’t mean this area won’t have a decent summer.
“It just means temperatures may trend at times a couple of degrees below normal. Which, I think, isn’t too bad… normal for Thunder Bay for June, July and August, is usually between about 21 to 24.”
The Weather Network adds to expect seasonal amounts of rain, with the meteorologist noting long ranging planning can be thrown off with one single thunderstorm.
“One localized thunderstorm can roll through Thunder Bay, dropping 50 to 100mm of rain, and that can really skew our data for the entire month or entire season.”
The meteorologist adds in spite of this summer expecting to be cooler than normal, she expects the warmer season to last into September.
Sonnenburg adds a variety of methods are used to predict the upcoming summer, such as the history of past seasons.
She says that includes recent years with similar atmospheric patterns, such as sea surface temperature in the Pacific and Atlantic.
“And we also take a look at basically patterns with El Nino, and that basically has to do with sea surface temperatures off the west coast of South America. Currently we’re in a very weak El Nino.”
