There seems to be little doubt golf season will be underway in another month, according to The Weather Network's long-range forecast.
Dayna Vettese, a meteorologist with the weather service, told The Guardian in an interview on Tuesday that it will be warmer than usual and precipitation levels are expected to be around normal.
"We're thinking for the spring months, which are March, April (and) May, temperatures will be above normal for the P.E.I. area, which is good news, if that's what you want,'' Vettese said.
Generally speaking, daytime highs in March hover around one or two degrees above freezing; plus-seven degrees in April and 14 above zero in May.
"Expect those temperatures to be a little bit above normal.''
While temperatures are expected to be above normal, don't expect the downright balmy conditions people enjoyed last year.
"If you recall last year's March, for a few days in March we had some very warm temperatures, pretty much in all of Eastern Canada. Record-breaking temperatures, actually.
"We don't expect temperatures to be that drastic this year but we do expect some of those fluctuations where we see those warmer temperatures where people are in T-shirts and they're like 'Yes! I can finally take off this winter jacket','' she laughed.
That doesn't mean the Island won't see more snow. After all, St. Patrick's Day isn't until Sunday, March 17, and it's usually almost a guarantee the province gets dumped on around that time.
On average, P.E.I. usually gets 50 centimetres of snow in March and another 20 to 30 centimetres in April. The totals last year were 40 cm in March and close to 20 cm in April.
The Weather Network is forecasting "a little bit more rain compared to snow'' this spring.
That warmer-than-normal weather, and the precipitation forecast, basically stretches from Ontario to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Golfers in western Canada might want to throw on a sweater when the courses open up. Vettese said cooler than expected weather is in their forecast although things will be drier than normal as well.
This winter has been whiter than the past two, meaning at least a few Islanders are looking forward to mowing lawns and hitting the links.
"Last year, we all kind of got a little bit spoiled with winter. It wasn't really that hard-hitting Canadian winter that we're used to seeing but this year we got a taste of it,'' Vettese said. "I think people are really looking forward to spring. Get out the shorts!''
Spring officially begins Wednesday, March 20.
