From El Niño to La Niña: impacts on weather forecasts in Canada
Members of the media may directly contact:
Hossein Bonakdari (English and French)
Associate Professor, Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Professor Bonakdari can explain the impact of the transition from El Niño in 2023 to La Niña in 2024 on Canada's climate.
“The 2023 El Niño has been one of the strongest on record, with significant global impacts. The warming of the Pacific Ocean's surface waters has led to changes in global weather patterns, including increased rainfall in South America, droughts in Southeast Asia, and warmer temperatures in North America. Canadians may face unexpected and unique weather patterns this winter due to the exceptional strength of the 2023 El Niño. Forecasts indicate an approximately 60% chance of above-normal temperatures across Canada, with regional variations. El Niño primarily impacts Western Canada, with its influence diminishing as the jet stream moves eastward. The transition from an El Niño event to a La Niña event is expected to occur in the summer of 2024, potentially leading to altered weather patterns compared to typical years. La Niña often brings cooler and wetter conditions.”