Big weather changes in Canada with the return of La Nina

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This weekend, Canadians should expect big weather changes, including the first snowstorm of the season, as La Nina returns with a chance to affect next winter.

La Nina is a term that refers to unusually cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

“These cold Pacific waters push the jet stream northward. This tends to cause drought in the southern United States and heavy rain and flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada,” according to NOAA. “During a La Nina year, winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the south and cooler than normal in the north.”

La Nina is expected to develop over the next two months, Weather Network meteorologist Melinda Singh said.

It’s a possibility that most of eastern Canada will see above-seasonal conditions, he said in a video posted on X Thursday night, while BC and the Prairies could see below-seasonal conditions.

“But if the coldest air is in the eastern Pacific, more than 80 percent of the country could see below-seasonal conditions this winter,” he said.

However, this return of La Nina will be “weak and short-lived” and neutral conditions may return in time for spring, Singh said.

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Meanwhile, this weekend, Canadians in the two northern provinces could experience the first snowstorm of the season, bringing heavy snowfall and strong winds, according to the Weather Network.

Since Friday morning, Environment Canada has issued snow warnings for parts of the Northwest Territories, as well as wind and blizzard warnings for parts of Nunavut. Some areas of Nunavut were also placed under a winter storm watch.

To the west, BC expects its first “significant atmospheric river,” described as long, narrow regions of the atmosphere, like sky rivers, that carry most of the water vapor out of the tropics, according to NOAA.

The atmospheric river “is forecast to bring more than 100mm of rain to the South Coast and Lower Mainland over the weekend,” the network said. Densely populated areas of BC will be targeted and localized flooding is likely in certain areas.

The rain could turn to snow for some residents living at higher elevations, the network said.

“Freezing levels are expected to rise from 1,500 meters on Friday to 2,200 meters on Saturday. With the help of the atmospheric river and some arctic air sinking to the south, people above these elevations in along the coastal and inland mountains could see a lot of snow,” the network explained.

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In the grasslands, drastic changes are expected as arctic air cools the region. Temperatures are expected to drop, moving “from the upper teens to low single digits by Monday,” according to the network, adding that Calgary and Edmonton could see a “risk of snow” in the forecast through the week coming

“The weekend’s cooling will be even more drastic in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where highs in the low 20s will quickly drop below ten degrees Monday and Tuesday,” the network said.

While Canadians in southern Ontario have already seen some overnight snow on Tuesday, milder temperatures will be in store for the weekend. Eastern Canada will also get a break from wintry weather this weekend as sunshine and light winds are expected to last into next week.

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