Â鶹ӰÊÓ

Skip to main content

Hot and sunny, damp and cool? What to expect this summer according to Environment Canada

A couple sit and read on the Toronto waterfront, Thursday July 6, 2023. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press) A couple sit and read on the Toronto waterfront, Thursday July 6, 2023. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press)
Share

This summer, Canadians should expect above-average temperatures for most of the country, according to Jennifer Smith, a national warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

Speaking with reporters Tuesday as part of Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) seasonal outlook presentation for this summer, Smith says this past spring was a strong indicator as to what type of climate to expect as we get into the warmest part on the calendar.

"Looking back at the recent spring season, warmer-than-normal average temperatures were observed from the Great Lakes across Ontario, Quebec, and into Labrador, as well as across the north," Smith said during her presentation, noting that B.C. had experienced normal or below-normal temperatures throughout spring.

While temperatures are expected to consistently rise through the summer months, Smith expects the normal ebbs and flows of weather to be part of Canadians' day-to-day lives.

"Daily weather will vary, expect heat waves, cool spells and all the fluctuations that summer weather brings," she said.

Smith warned that Canadians should be ready for a warmer summer that could be met with drier conditions across the country. She also said after last season's wildfires, the worst in Canadian history, environmental experts took extra notice of air quality.

"The impact of wildfire smoke not only affects regions in proximity to fires, but possibly thousands of kilometres away," Smith said. "Knowing how to stay informed so that you can make the decisions for your own health and safety is key."

Smith concluded that seasonal forecasts do have a high degree of uncertainty, and that while this is a national outlook, the actual impact will "greatly depend on local day-to-day weather."

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.

Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.

Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.

Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.

A 15-year-old boy who was the subject of an emergency alert in New Brunswick has been arrested.

The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.

Provincial police investigating the death of a cat that was allegedly set on fire in Orillia earlier this week released surveillance video of a person of interest in the case.

Local Spotlight

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

A Good Samaritan in New Brunswick has replaced a man's stolen bottle cart so he can continue to collect cans and bottles in his Moncton neighbourhood.