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If it’s been feeling a lot more like mid-January than mid-April lately, no, you’re not imagining it.
Fresh snow has been falling on the North Shore mountains and there’s a decidedly non-spring-like chill in the air.
Spring weather has been delayed on south coast, thanks to the lingering effects of La Nina, said Bobby Sekhon, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.
Those eager to move into balmy days on patios or out in the garden will just have to wait.
“We’re not looking at any significant warming coming anytime soon,” he said.
Usual temperatures for this time of year range from lows of about 6 degrees to highs of 15, said Sekhon.
But on Monday at the West Vancouver weather station, it was a struggle for the daytime high to reach eight degrees – among the coolest April 17ths on record.
Overnight lows have been colder in the past – barely getting above freezing on the same day in 2011.
In contrast, the hottest April 17th in West Vancouver was recorded in 1999, when daytime highs were over 22 degrees.
Sekhon said the cool spring so far is a result of a La Nina weather pattern – which tends to bring cooler than average temperatures to the south coast during winter and spring seasons.
“It doesn’t always turn out this way. But generally, that’s what we can expect with La Nina winters,” said Sekhon.
Sadly for skiers, both Cypress Mountain Resort and Seymour Mountain on the North Shore have now closed for the season.
Those wanting to get in a few final runs can still head to Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, however, where the last day of the ski season is set for April 23.
The chilly weather trend is expected to continue at least into May, said Sekhon.
It doesn’t mean there won’t be days with warmer temperatures before that, Sekhon added.
But the general pattern is showing below-average temperatures to continue at least through to mid-May, and possibly right through to the end of next month.
