Summer in Canada promises to be hotter than usual

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) released its summer weather forecast this week. Average temperatures across most of the country are expected to be above normal through at least the end of August.

June has already seen higher-than-normal temperatures in the northern Prairies, northern Ontario, and northern Quebec. ECCC expects temperatures to continue to be above normal in these regions, as well as the rest of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Atlantic Canada.

Many regions of Canada are already experiencing the devastating effects of wildfires. And one of the main reasons for this is just how much warmer and drier the beginning of summer of 2023 has been than in previous years. With the remaining two-thirds of the season expected to be warmer and drier than usual, Canadians are being urged to prepare. The ECCC is advised to monitor weather forecasts more closely, to take all weather alerts seriously, and to develop an emergency plan.

Climate change is already affecting natural and weather phenomena in Canada. Studies show that the country is warming almost twice as fast as the rest of the world. This is especially noticeable in northern Canada. This is expected to cause even more devastating weather events than what we are seeing now, in the future.

Despite frightening predictions, Canada continues to adapt to climate change and deal with its effects. To do this, the government is working with provincial governments and Indigenous groups to develop a National Adaptation Strategy (PDF). The goal of this strategy is to develop a plan that will reduce the risk of natural disasters related to climate change, work to improve public health, and protect nature and the infrastructure needed to do so.