Halifax businesses face empty patios as spring stalls

Karl Nordin gets ready to board his empty tour boat, docked at Halifax Harbour (Paul Hollingsworth/CTV News).

HALIFAX - Every day, tour boat operator Karl Nordin has his boat ready to take tourists on cruises around Halifax Harbour.

Nordin depends on warm weather to make his business a success.

“We’ve had a few nice days,” said Nordin, who added, he would like to have even more.

Rain and chilly weather conditions have chased away many of his customers.

“With the wind, it does make a difference in the feel, even on a sunny day like today,” said Nordin. “With the cold and the wind, it makes (it) a little uncomfortable.”

Lil Mcpherson’s outdoor patio at the Wooden Monkey Restaurant in Dartmouth, N.S., is usually packed with customers at this time of the year.

“When it’s nice and warm out, everybody comes out,” she said.

But even on some sunny days, McPherson said it’s still not warm enough to draw big crowds of people looking to enjoy the vibe of outdoor dining with a view of the ocean.

“It has not been great,” said Mcpherson. “It’s been challenging and we’re just waiting for that to break right.”

According to CTV Atlantic Chief Meteorologist Kalin Mitchell, the average temperatures in N.S. for the month of May were normal for that time of year. However, there was a spell of cold and windy conditions late in the month.

People living in Cape Breton had a shock with some spring snow, with several centimetres falling on May 29.

Jeffrey Sonsino and his family from Nashville recently visited Halifax. They were surprised by the cold and wet weather but decided to make the best of it.

“We are going to take a little tour of the water in one of those amphibious boats,” said Sonsino.

For anyone who is impatient with the recent trend of sketchy maritime weather, Nordin has an optimistic preview of summer.

“Oh, it’s absolutely beautiful here,” he said.

Nordin is confident his boating business will soon pick-up, and a prolonged stretch of sunny skies and warm temperatures will finally arrive in Nova Scotia.