What will winter be like in Canada? Farmer’s Almanac releases extended forecast

A whirlwind of rain and snow will blanket most of Canada this winter thanks in part to the La Nina weather pattern, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s new extended weather forecast.

From east of the Rockies to Ontario, about two-thirds of Canada is projected to have below-normal temperatures as the La Nina system is forecast to develop throughout the season, according to the American weather forecaster.

Its forecasts consider “normal” to be the 30-year average.

La Nina is a naturally occurring phenomenon that typically happens every three to five years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. With La Nina, the interactions between the ocean surface and atmosphere make the tropical Pacific Ocean colder than normal. The changes affect tropical rainfall patterns and atmospheric winds over the ocean, which ultimately alter weather patterns around the world. While it usually forms during March to June, La Nina reaches “peak intensity” during winter and tends to last one to three years. 

With winter solstice starting Dec. 21, the coldest temperatures are expected to hit the areas from the Prairies to the Great Lakes region.

Marking the first day of winter, the winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

The new year calls for Canadians to bundle up even more. The frigid air will cause temperatures to plummet the most during the final week of January into the start of February, from the Prairies into the Great Lakes region.

While British Columbia will be unseasonably chilly, Quebec and the Maritimes are projected to see temperatures that are higher than normal.

The eastern third of Canada is predicted to receive above-normal precipitation, especially around the Great Lakes.

If you’re in the Newfoundland and Labrador regions, an umbrella or waterproof gear will come in handy for most of winter. The regions are expected to have a wet winter overall with some snow. Most of the precipitation will be “wet, mushy and slushy” amid projected higher-than-normal temperatures, according to the Old Farmers’ Almanac.

A wet winter is also in the forecast for British Columbia.

Meanwhile in Quebec, snow will be more common during the season. A “decent sized storm” is forecast during the middle of February.

It’s a mixed bag of snow and rain for Ontario. The Prairies are expected to have the best chance for a white winter.

A storm is forecast to strike most eastern areas in the new year, bringing abundant snow, rain, sleet and ice as well as strong winds from Jan. 20 to 23 and 24 to 27.

Farmers and gardeners originally used the Old Farmer’s Almanac, which was founded in 1792, to plan for the year ahead.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says it uses state-of-the-art technology and modern science to predict the weather, taking into account solar science, climatology and meteorology. It says climate change is a factor in its long-range forecasts.

“Like all forecasters, we have not yet gained sufficient insight into the mysteries of the universe to predict the weather with total accuracy, though our results are often very close to our traditional claim of 80 percent,” it wrote on its website.