If you're familiar with the proverb, "In Like a Lamb, out Like a Lion," you can certainly say the start of March is producing lamb-like conditions. Natalie Hazell with Environment Canada says we're actually quite fortunate the winter storm that hit North Dakota and Minnesota this week didn't extend into Manitoba. She notes for the rest of the week we can expect mild temperatures with only a slight chance of flurries.

If we truly did enter March like a lamb, the proverb suggests the end of March could produce some interesting weather. But Hazell says the weather should actually be quite lovely for the next three months. Environment Canada has released its spring weather outlook which includes the months of March, April and May. "Based on the current forecasts that we have available for March, April, May, Southern Manitoba temperature trend continues to be above normal for Southern Manitoba and into the Interlake region," says Hazell. Areas north can expect more normal temperatures.

As for precipitation, Hazell says that too depends on where you live in Manitoba. "For most of Manitoba we're expecting normal amounts of precipitation for March, April, May," she says. "So as the days get warmer we do tend to see more precipitation and that's the way it should be, warmer air, more moisture, that type of thing." But, Hazell says the area including the Red River Valley and Southeastern Manitoba can actually expect above normal precipitation this spring. However, she's quick to add long range precipitation forecasts are really just an indication of trends.

According to Hazell, we are still under the influence of a La Nina, though that's supposed to generate cooler than normal temperatures. "We've seen more storms further north, especially as we get into the Northwest Territories and Nunavut for instance," she says. "So we've been quite lucky here from that aspect we've been lucky here in Southern Manitoba." The La Nina is expected to continue through most of the spring until we shift to either a neutral or possibly El Nino. Hazell says that could result in above normal temperatures. But Hazell says the effects of a La Nina or El Nino are strongest in winter. "So I'm not really sure what to expect at this point in terms of the forecast related to the El Nino/ La Nina question for our March, April, May outlook. But I do know that our models do take the La Nina/ El Nino cycle into consideration, it's part of the model. So that should already be reflected here."