Meteorologist predicts cooler than normal, wetter July for Edmonton

Environment Canada ended all heavy rainfall warnings in Alberta on Wednesday as the weather system moved east.

But the weather authority is telling Albertans to keep their umbrellas nearby.

That’s because Environment Canada is forecasting a wet summer in Edmonton – quite the contrast to the hot, dry June from last year.

And it appears the worst of the wet is yet to come.

“For Edmonton, July is actually usually the wetter month,” said Sarah Hoffman, meteorologist with Environment Canada. “In July we usually see 96 mms, in June here in Edmonton we usually see about 73 mms.”

Effects of La Niña on Prairies

Western Canada is feeling the effects of the La Niña weather system over the Pacific, which brings cooler and wetter days to the Prairies. That’s not a welcome change for some Edmontonians.

“I think I definitely prefer the heat over the horrible gray,” said one Edmonton resident.

“I kind of like it,” said another. “I don’t like it when it’s too hot, you can walk around, run around, you know?”

“I’m from Australia where it is pretty dry so I actually like the rain,” added a third. “It’s sort of different and I’m enjoying it.”

Cooler summer in Edmonton 

La Niña also brings colder-than-usual temperatures for Edmonton’s all-too-short summer.

And its effects continue into winter, too, where there is expected to be a repeat of freezing rain similar to last year.

“La Niña for winter on the Prairies usually brings a cooler than normal and a wetter than normal winter,” said Hoffman. “The winter we had last year was very much what we should expect with La Niña winters.”

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Although the rain might be putting a damper on summer plans, it’s also proving to be a challenge for some businesses.

“It’s been pretty terrible,” said a restaurant employee. “I work at a restaurant here on Whyte Avenue and we are pretty patio-operated so we have had to shut down quite a few days and it’s been a pretty big hit for us.”

Environment Canada is calling for sunny skies in Edmonton Friday before the rain begins falling periodically again throughout the weekend and into next week.