Team Trough versus Team Ridge: Long weekend setup divides Canada

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

The unofficial kickoff to summer is right around the corner, but not every part of Canada will feel like it's getting its share of warmth.

It is hard to believe that the May long weekend (and the unofficial kickoff to summer) is this weekend, given the lack of warm weather that we have seen across Canada so far during May.

The good news is we are already in the midst of a major pattern reversal, with widespread near-seasonal or above-seasonal temperatures expected across much of Canada this week, with a taste of summer-like heat and humidity for much of central Canada -- perhaps extending into the Victoria Day long weekend, too.

Your plans for the forthcoming long weekend will be impacted by where you are located in our very wavy jet stream pattern across Canada, with a strong ridge and a strong trough dominating the country. Anyone on Team Ridge will have a summer-like start to the long weekend.

Here is a look at our pattern as we head into the long weekend.

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As we progress through the week, the ridge responsible for the heat early this week across the Prairies will shift to the east. This will bring an extended taste of summer to Ontario, Quebec and even a brief taste of early summer weather for parts of Atlantic Canada as we head towards the start of the long weekend.

Meanwhile, B.C. will enjoy near seasonal temperatures while much colder weather, along with much needed rain (and even some wet snow), will spread across the Prairies.

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Here is a look at the high temperatures that you can expect on Saturday.

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However, as we go through the weekend, temperatures will recover across the Prairies and cooler weather will spread into Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Here is a look at high temperatures for Sunday.

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By Monday, temperatures will be more uniform and across the country and closer to seasonal for late May. We will also have widespread and much needed rain across the southern Prairies.

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