Temperatures on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast could be above normal this coming winter.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has presented the winter outlook for 2024-2025, making predictions about whether temperatures will be normal, near normal or above normal for the country.
For the western Canada, experts say there will be a warm start to the season, with BC to be between 40 to 50 percent above normal. Vancouver Island will see a mix of 40 to 50 percent and 60 to 70 percent above normal temperatures, while the Sunshine Coast is in the 40 to 50 percent range.
Environment Canada says this year we’re shifting into a La Niña winter.
“La Niña happens when stronger-than-normal trade winds push warm surface water westward in the Pacific, allowing cooler, deeper water to rise near the South American coast,” said Environment Canada.
“This results in cooler-than-average sea temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific.”
They say because winters are becoming warmer, this coming La Niña is expected to be weaker and less pronounced this season.
But the cooling effect of La Niña will be felt in the western and northwestern parts of the country, possibly causing below-seasonal temperatures, a more active storm track, and a drier atmosphere in Canada’s southern parts.
