Post by : Meena Ariff

Canada is gearing up for what could be one of its most unpredictable winters in recent history, with meteorologists stating that the dual influence of climate change and a weak La Niña is complicating long-term weather forecasts.

Experts in climate patterns indicate that the clearest projections can be found in the eastern Arctic, where temperatures from December through February are expected to deviate significantly above seasonal averages. This warming trend is likely to affect most of Nunavut, areas close to Hudson Bay, and northern Quebec and Labrador.

Conversely, certain smaller regions in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nova Scotia might experience cooler-than-normal conditions, while parts of British Columbia’s coastline, eastern Nova Scotia, and sections of Newfoundland are predicted to have near-normal temperatures.

However, the majority of western and central Canada—including B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, various areas in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime provinces—lack distinct trends. Meteorologists warn that with weak forecasting signals, the winter could unfold in numerous ways.

This uncertainty arises from the conflicting dynamics of La Niña’s typical cooling effects and the dominant warming trends associated with climate change. Although early cold snaps in western Canada align with La Niña, the overarching warming is lessening its influence and clouding forecast reliability.

Moreover, researchers caution that this year's unusually warm ocean temperatures may intensify winter storms, particularly those originating in the Pacific and then moving toward central Canada.

Precipitation forecasts indicate above-average snowfall or rainfall for regions in the north and west—including Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C., Yukon, and the Northwest Territories—with lower confidence for the rest of the nation.

At the same time, climate scientists are enhancing Canada’s rapid weather attribution system to analyze extreme precipitation occurrences like heavy rain, hail, and snow. Recent findings suggest that human-induced climate change has increased the likelihood of nearly all major precipitation events recorded since mid-2025.

This improved system aims to help Canadians grasp how global warming is affecting weather patterns and extreme storms that increasingly threaten communities and essential infrastructure across the nation.

#Climate #Canada News #Environment news #World News