Anticipating Spring’s Arrival Following One of the Warmest Winters in the Country.
As Tuesday night ushers in the official arrival of spring, Canadians are eagerly anticipating the weather that the season will bring.
The mild winter, attributed to the tapering El Niño climate pattern as noted by Phillips, is expected to persist into spring and summer, facilitating a smooth transition between seasons. However, the repercussions of this dry winter are likely to extend as provinces prepare for drought and the looming threat of another severe wildfire season.
“We are proactively taking steps earlier than ever to prepare for this year’s wildfire and drought seasons,” stated Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s minister of emergency management and climate readiness, during a press conference on Monday.
In response, the B.C. government is allocating $80 million to address concerns from last year’s drought among farmers and to assist the industry in coping with the potential challenges of another dry season.
With snow levels remaining low, B.C. Premier David Eby expressed concerns that this summer’s drought could surpass that of last year.
Environment Canada’s models indicate warmer-than-normal conditions for both spring and summer, However, there are projections of a few colder days ahead.
Due to the impacts of climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, Donaldson noted that the province is experiencing an earlier onset and prolonged duration of its wildfire season.
As of Tuesday afternoon, British Columbia reported 96 active wildfires, with ninety of them categorized as holdover fires that persisted through the winter.
