SPRING FORECAST: Warmer than normal, maybe wetter too

TORONTO — Environment Canada’s David Phillips has a pretty optimistic forecast for farmers: Spring should be warmer than normal but maybe wetter than normal.

Predicting precipitation is like calling coin tosses. “I don’t bet the family farm on precipitation.” Even if it does rain more than usual, don’t expect a monsoon, he said.

But Phillips said temperature predictions, which the forecaster is more confident about, are looking good for farmers.

March, April and May are all expected to be warmer than normal through Western Ontario, which is a good start. As well, it should be a pretty consistent warmth, and it should be warm through the days and cold at night. That’s good for getting maple syrup flowing and avoiding flooding, he said.

Farmers should be able to get into the fields sooner, unless that extra precipitation does end up falling. The other wild card is if a killer frost hits in April. “We’re not calling for it, but it’s always a risk.”