'Trying to tell us something': Climatologist says 2021 a weather year like no other

When Dave Phillips, Environment Canada's senior climatologist, began 26 years ago compiling his annual list of the country's Top 10 weather events, he sometimes had to stretch a bit.

When Dave Phillips, Environment Canada's senior climatologist, began 26 years ago compiling his annual list of the country's Top 10 weather events, he sometimes had to stretch a bit.

“One of the big stories was, 'Hey, it was a good recreation season, skiers loved it,”' he recalls.

Searching for weather events was not a problem in 2021.

“This year was beyond belief. There's no year in the 26 years that could compare to this year.”

There are no happy visions of snow-covered slopes on the 2021 list. Just death, destruction and drought.

Consider late June's heat dome in Western Canada, the top pick by Phillips for the year.

The record temperature of nearly 50 C at Lytton, British Columbia, was well-publicized - as was the village's destruction in an ensuing wildfire. But Lytton was only one of six communities that surpassed Canada's previous all-time high temperature that day.