Before you book a one-way ticket to the southern hemisphere or prepare for a months-long hibernation in reaction to the Farmers' Almanac鈥檚 bleak winter forecast this week, you might want to wait for Environment Canada to weigh in.
Days after the Farmers' Almanac released its winter forecast calling for 鈥渢eeth-chattering cold,鈥� Environment Canada鈥檚 senior climatologist has teased a more moderate outlook that is sure to be welcome news to many Canadians.
Senior Climatologist Dave Phillips said Environment Canada is expecting a 鈥渕ilder than normal鈥� winter this year, thanks to El Nino. The routine climate pattern related to warm water in the Pacific Ocean is projected to be weak to moderate this year, Phillips said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit uncertain right now, but we certainly think it will seem shorter than last winter and maybe not as tough as it was last year,鈥� he told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Friday.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not cancelling winter. We鈥檒l still have winter in the second coldest and snowiest country in the world, but it won鈥檛 have the sting that we鈥檝e seen in other times.鈥�
The lead up to winter will also be kind to those who love the warmth, according to the senior climatologist. Phillips said the weather agency is anticipating a gradual transition from summer to fall.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e not going to see all of a sudden a change because the seasons have changed,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 write the obituary on summer-like weather yet. There鈥檚 still some summer left in the air.鈥�
Phillips credits the warmer-than-normal summer Canadians enjoyed this summer for heating up the lakes, rivers, and oceans. He said those bodies of water will continue to emit some of that lingering heat in the coming weeks, which will lead to some comfortable fall temperatures.
So, why is there such a discrepancy between the Farmers' Almanac鈥檚 forecast and Environment Canada鈥檚?
Phillips said weather patterns have become more complicated since he began studying climate more than three decades ago. He said the Earth鈥檚 changing jet streams and melting ice in the North has greatly affected the planet鈥檚 climate and scientists鈥� ability to predict it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like a crapshoot. It鈥檚 like weather whiplash,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think weird, wild, and wacky is the way it goes. The new normal is to expect the unexpected.鈥�
Environment Canada releases its official fall forecast on Sept. 1.
