La Nina could bring forth cold and stormy winter to Canada, new forecast predicts
CTV
The climatological phenomenon known as La Nina has returned, and that means many Canadians can expect a cold and stormy winter, according to AccuWeather's latest winter forecast.
La Nina, a cold weather event that normally occurs every three to five years, has surfaced for the second consecutive year over the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated in a news release.
Last winter, temperatures were high across the country in January, up to about 4.5 C above normal. But in February, temperatures flipped and some areas, including Edmonton and Winnipeg, experienced record lows, according to AccuWeather.
The western half of Canada will likely go through below average temperatures again this winter, along with more stormy weather, AccuWeather predicts, due to an amplified polar jet stream.
"The upcoming winter is expected to be fairly stormy from southern British Columbia through the Canadian Rockies with many opportunities for significant rainfall and strong winds along the coast," AccuWeather meteorologist Brett Anderson said on the company's website. "Abundant snowfall is expected throughout much of ski country from the coastal range of British Columbia through the Rockies of western Alberta."
