The June forecast for Alberta is out and it's looking parched and possibly stormy
Alberta welcomes the official start of summer in June, and as we look forward to that, we’ve got the scoop on how the forecast is shaping up.
We spoke with Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Alysa Pederson, who says Alberta is likely in for a run-of-the-mill June.
Temperatures across Alberta in June are forecast to be near normal, after seeing above-normal temperatures in May.
“We forecast above normal a lot and there are hints of that in parts of the province, like the north and the southeast, but through Calgary, Edmonton, west on the foothills, we’re getting an indication we don’t have a clear signal,” Pederson said.
“When we see that, it’s generally probably somewhere in that normal, maybe a little bit above normal range, that’s how it’ll likely turn out.”
Normal maximum temperatures for Calgary in June sit at 19.7°C, while Edmonton comes in at 21°C.
Will it be a rainy June for Alberta?
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June is shaping up to be rather dry across Alberta, a trend that ECCC has seen in its longer ranger guidance for the seasons of June, July, and August.
Pederson says essentially Edmonton to Calgary, along the foothills and then outside of that is looking to be dry, but outside of that range, it’s a little dicier to forecast due to subdued signals on whether it will be below or above normal.
Severe thunderstorms may pop up throughout Alberta
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Although Alberta’s peak thunderstorm season is in July, thunderstorms do start to ramp up in June, and we were just treated to the first test of the season yesterday when storms swept through the province.
“I would expect now right if we get these warmer days, yeah, thunderstorms are absolutely possible, whether it comes to like large hail, that’s always a risk. Large hail, extremely strong winds, there’s always a risk anytime you have that for some activity,” Pederson said.
As we slide into severe thunderstorm season, Pederson stressed that people should make sure they have their emergency kits handy if they need them, and to make sure to know what to do if they’re going to be caught in a thunderstorm.
As for what Albertans should expect this June overall, Pederson added that the month is typically a transition season, with a lot of days to be nice and excited for.
“You’re happy to be outside because it’s springtime. And, you know, the temperatures are, as you’ve seen this week, getting to be in those, you know, mid to high 20s on a lot of days. I would still say, though, that June, we do call it June monsoon in Alberta.”
June monsoon can entail a jet stream moving across the province as it goes north, allowing for big rain events that usually last a day or two. If that’s in the forecast for a couple of days throughout the month, there’s usually pretty high confidence in that, because these systems do like to come through Alberta and hang out for a bit.
“Enjoy the days while you have them. It’s warming up.”