B.C. Expected to See the Warmest Winter on Record

There is a prediction that this winter could be extremely mild, which could be bad news for snow enthusiasts and some ski resorts.

According to AccuWeather, the upcoming winter could be the warmest one on record for Canada as a strong El Niño persists. The weather media source says that Western Canadian residents should expect to see another winter with above to well above normal temperatures. Compared to last winter, there will be more snow across the coastal mountains of B.C., including Whistler Blackcomb. But at lower elevations, such as Whistler Village, less snow will be seen on the ground.

“Farther east in the Rockies of eastern British Columbia and western Alberta, snowfall will underachieve this winter,” said AccuWeather. “The majority of the snow in this region will fall during the first half of the winter before a drier pattern sets up during January and February.”

Over in the prairies, residents can expect a drier and milder winter as the Polar jet stream becomes displaced farther to the north. It is expected that average temperatures could be as much as three degrees above normal this winter in cities such as Regina, Edmonton, and Calgary. Experts believe that significant snowfall events will be few and far between across the region.

While the weather is expected to be milder out west, the forecast is much different for the eastern provinces. It is predicted that winter will not be nearly as cold as last year, but there is an increased risk of ice storms. The storms are expected to affect Ontario to southern Quebec, and include the cities of Ottawa and Montreal.

“As the storm track shifts toward the East Coast later in January and February, there will be an increased risk for significant snowfall events across eastern Quebec, including the Gaspe Peninsula,” added AccuWeather.

Atlantic Canada will likely have a stormy but milder winter thanks to the combination of a strong El Niño and warmer than usual sea surface waters. Winter could turn stormy from New Brunswick to PEI in the second half of winter.