Canada to Experience Cooldown Before Warmer-Than-Usual Temperatures Make a Comeback

Canada is experiencing a wide range of weather conditions this week, with the West seeing its first hint of winter and the East enjoying summer-like warmth on Tuesday.

“The fall season — September and October — has been relatively calm across Canada this year,” said Dave Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment Canada.

However, Canadians will get a taste of winter this week. In Calgary, commuters faced slippery roads on Tuesday morning after the city’s first snowfall of the season. Southern Alberta saw a few centimetres of snow, while the mountains were expected to receive up to 25 centimetres. Fort McMurray was hit with 13 centimetres of snow.

Saskatchewan experienced a wintry mix on Tuesday as temperatures remained in the single digits. Snow fell in Regina and Saskatoon, prompting people to bring out their warmer clothes, though it wasn’t enough to accumulate.

“These are just teasers,” Phillips explained. “By the weekend, we’ll see double-digit temperatures, sunshine, and all the snow will disappear, thanks to the warm ground and air.”

The cold front is moving across the country and is expected to reach Ontario by Wednesday or Thursday, according to Environment Canada.

“All good things come to an end,” Phillips noted.

Toronto enjoyed a high of 23°C on Tuesday, and Halifax residents basked in blue skies and sunshine. However, Ontario’s temperatures are expected to drop a few degrees below normal later in the week, while Atlantic Canada will likely feel the change by the weekend.

Phillips emphasized that this cooldown is temporary, with November forecasted to bring warmer-than-usual conditions. As winter approaches, Canada may see a colder season compared to last year due to the expected arrival of La Niña, which will bring cooler Arctic air.

“I don’t think it will be brutal or punishing,” Phillips said. “Just closer to normal or less cold than we might expect.”