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Temperature in Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Climate in Canada varies widely from region to region. In many parts of the country, particularly in the interior and Prairie provinces, winters are long, very cold, and feature frequent snow. Most of Canada has a continental climate, which features a large annual range of temperatures, cold winters, and warm summers. Daily average temperatures are near −15 °C (5 °F), but can drop below −50 °C (−58 °F) with severe wind chills.[1] In non-coastal regions, snow can cover the ground for almost six months of the year, while in parts of the north snow can persist year-round. Coastal British Columbia has a more temperate climate, with a mild and rainy, cloudy winter. On the east and west coasts, average high temperatures are generally in the low 20s °C, while between the coasts, the average summer high temperature ranges from 25 to 30 °C (77 to 86 °F), with temperatures in some interior locations occasionally exceeding 40 °C (104 °F).[2]
Much of Northern Canada is covered by ice and permafrost; however, the future of the permafrost is uncertain because the Arctic has been warming at three times the global average as a result of climate change in Canada.[3] Canada's annual average temperature over land has warmed by 1.7 °C (3.1 °F), with changes ranging from 1.1 to 2.3 °C (2.0 to 4.1 °F) in various regions, since 1948.[4] The rate of warming has been higher across the North and in the Prairies.[4] In the southern regions of Canada, air pollution from both Canada and the United States—caused by metal smelting, burning coal to power utilities, and vehicle emissions—has resulted in acid rain, which has severely impacted waterways, forest growth and agricultural productivity in Canada.[5]
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Averages
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The following tables show the average maximum and minimum temperatures of Canada of various cities across Canada, based on the climate period from 1981 to 2010 for the months of January and July (generally the lowest and highest average temperature months, but not in every case).
The two major Canadian cities that fall outside the continental climate schema are Vancouver and Victoria. Vancouver experiences an oceanic climate, bordering warm-summer mediterranean with a marked summer dry season. Victoria, BC is the only major Canadian city entirely in a warm-summer mediterranean climate. Of the eight largest Canadian cities, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto have the warmest summers, Winnipeg the coldest winters, while Vancouver's winters are far milder than any other large city in Canada.
In mountainous regions such as British Columbia the variety of elevations creates micro-climates with average temperatures that can vary wildly within relatively small distances. A few small towns in southern BC outside of Vancouver, for example, have a humid continental climate (Dfb) with average winter temperatures and cold snaps comparable to other parts of the country.
Central Canada and northern Canada experiences subarctic and Arctic climates, much of them arid. Those areas are not heavily populated due to the severe climate, where it drops below −20 °C (−4 °F) on most winter days and has a very brief summer season.
Some Mountain passes in southern BC also have a subarctic or subalpine climate, creating extremely dangerous driving conditions, as drivers may be unaware of wintry road conditions when they come from nearby areas like Vancouver and Kamloops that are much warmer.[6]
The table can be reordered by clicking on the box in each column. Places in italics are provincial capitals, bold is the national capital.
Heat, cold and frost averages
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Extremes
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Extreme highs
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Extreme lows
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- Highest recorded June 29, 2021 49.6 °C (121.3 °F) Lytton, British Columbia.[52]
- Lowest recorded February 3, 1947 −63.0 °C (−81.4 °F) Snag, Yukon.[51]
The table can be reordered by clicking on the box in each column. Places in italics are provincial capital, bold is the national capital.
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Climate change
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Climate change is greatly impacting Canada's environment and landscapes. Extreme weather has become more frequent and severe because of the continued release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The number of climate change–related events, such as the 2021 British Columbia Floods and an increasing number of forest fires, has become an increasing concern over time.[57] Canada's annual average temperature over land warmed by 1.7 °C (3.1 °F) between 1948 and 2016. The rate of warming is highest in Canada's north, the Prairies, and northern British Columbia. The country's precipitation has increased in recent years and wildfires expanded from seasonal events to year-round threats.
Canada is proposing to lead on climate – but it's doubling down on oil.[58] As of 2022[update] Canada was the world's 11th highest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2)[59][60] and as of 2021 the 7th highest emitter of greenhouse gases.[61] Canada has a long history of producing industrial emissions going back to the late 19th century. In 2022 transport, oil and gas extraction, and fugitive emissions together emitted 82% of the country's total emissions.[62] From 1990 to 2022, GHG emissions from conventional oil production increased by 24%, those from multi-stage fracturing techniques increased by 56%, and emissions from oil sands production increased by 467%.[63]
Canada committed to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 under the Paris Agreement. In July 2021, Canada enhanced the Paris Agreement plans with a new goal of reducing emissions by 40–45% below 2005 levels by 2030,[64] enacting the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.[62] In 2019, the House of Commons voted to declare a national climate emergency in Canada.[65] Several climate change mitigation policies have been implemented in the country, such as carbon pricing, emissions trading and climate change funding programs.Remove ads
Maps
Weather Stations locations in Canada.
Alberton
YLT
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Corner Brook
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YES
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YEV
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YMA
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YUL
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YXE
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YSU
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Weather Stations
Notes
- Bailey, William G; Oke, T.R.; Rouse, Wayne R (1997). The surface climates of Canada. McGill−Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-1672-7.
- Bernstein, Steven (2008), A globally integrated climate policy for Canada, University of Toronto Press, ISBN 978-0-8020-9878-8
- Coward, Harold G; Weaver, Andrew John (2007), Hard choices: climate change in Canada, Wilfrid Laurier University Press, ISBN 978-0-88920-442-3
- French, Hugh M; Slaymaker, Olav (1993), Canada's Cold Environments, McGill−Queen's University Press, ISBN 0-7735-0925-9
- Jaccard, Mark; Simpson, Jeffrey; Nic, Rivers (2008), Hot Air: Meeting Canada's Climate Change Challenge, Emblem/McClelland & Stewart, ISBN 9780771080975
- Smit, Barry; Wall, Shirley Ellen; Wandel, Johanna (2007), Farming in a changing climate: agricultural adaptation in Canada, UBC Press, ISBN 978-0-7748-1393-8
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See also
References
External links
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