Victoria Day long weekend to bring cold winds, showers to Waterloo Region

For many Canadians, the Victoria Day long weekend marks the unofficial start of summer.

Those thinking about getting outside for some yardwork or taking a trip to the cottage may want to consider making back-up plans.

According to 570’s Meteorologist Jill Taylor, the forecast is looking wet and chilly.

“With the warm air today, you may be thinking, ‘Oh man, I’m heading right to the lake.’ Yeah, no. You don’t want to jump in the lake,” said Taylor. “It takes a long time for those lakes to warm up, so it is still very, very cool.”

She added that there is potential for thunderstorms on Saturday morning and showers throughout the day, then some cold air on Sunday and Monday with highs of 15 C.

There is good news for Monday evening, as Taylor expects the skies to be clear for Victoria Day fireworks.

Many around Waterloo Region will also be looking to get out into the garden this weekend to start growing some fresh vegetables. James Herrle of Herrle’s Country Farm Market offered some tips for those with a green thumb.

“Spinach is a great, easy crop,” he said. “It generally comes up out of the ground quickly, so you get quick rewards. Peas are another crop that are a cool soil crop, so it’s a good time of the year to plant that now as opposed to planting that in July.”

Herrle also advised against planting seeds when the ground is wet, so consider holding off on planting throughout Saturday.

“We’re just coming up to the season where Ontario really shines,” said Herrle. “We can have certain crops and certain foods all season long, but it’s really hard to replace the bounty of what Ontario can produce in the summer, we just can’t replicate as well in our off-season.”

Herrle’s Country Farm Market opens for the first time this season on the weekend of May 23 and 24.