OAKVILLE – It looks as though skiers in the Canadian Rockies could suffer through another winter of poor conditions while those in Ontario might see more snow and colder temperatures than normal.
"Ocean temperatures are returning to normal, therefore, our Canadian winter will be dominated by continental temperatures," says The Weather Network’s meteorologist Lloyd Butler.
There are three major weather stories emerging this season. Areas of British Columbia are expected to receive below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures. This will likely have a negative affect on British Columbia’s alpine areas. Southern & eastern Ontario will experience the opposite, with above normal precipitation and below normal temperatures. Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador will also have above normal precipitation, as a series of low pressure systems pass by its coast.
According to The Weather Network, Canadians can expect:
* Much of British Columbia will experience normal temperatures with the southwest part of the province expected to receive above normal temperatures. Most of the province will experience near normal precipitation, however, the southern coast should end the winter drier than normal.
* Early winter in the Prairies will see mild spells give way to cooler temperatures in the latter half of the winter. Overall, the Prairies should see near normal temperatures this winter. Wetter than normal precipitation is expected through the central and eastern Prairies. These areas usually do not receive a great deal of snowfall during a normal winter.
* Central Canada can expect cooler than normal temperatures for the beginning of winter with a slow warm up in the spring. The warm waters of the Great Lakes will be a factor in the development of snow squalls. Areas in northern Ontario and Quebec should end the season slightly drier than normal with much of this winter’s activities happening across the southern end of the province.
* Atlantic Canada can expect near normal precipitation and temperatures this winter with the eastern coast of Newfoundland expected to receive above normal precipitation as early winter storms pass by the region.
* The majority of the territories can expect near normal precipitation with the exception of extreme eastern Nunavut which is expected to receive below normal precipitation. Temperatures for most of the Northwest Territories and parts of Yukon are expected to be below normal.
