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After a chilly, up-and-down spring, many in the Ottawa Valley have been wondering whether summer is going to show up at all.
That’s why a check-in with Environment and Climate Change Canada climatologist David Phillips offers some optimism, even though the agency’s official summer forecast does not come out until June 1.
Phillips said spring has been frustrating, with cold snaps, rain and soggy conditions slowing farmers and keeping many off their decks.
Phillips said his preliminary outlook shows a shift in the pacific waters.
Warmer than normal in fact, according to Phillips.
He said the wet spring may help prevent drought later this summer, supporting crops and groundwater supplies.
While severe weather is always possible, Phillips said the broader trend suggests the region could make up for a slow start with a warm and active summer season.
