La Niña Has Arrived—What It Means for Winter Ahead
La Niña is officially here, impacting winter weather patterns across North America
La Niña, Winter 2024-2025, Canada, Ontario, Quebec
Toronto: So, La Niña is finally here! After all that waiting, the ocean temps in the Pacific have dropped enough to make it official. It’s been a long time coming, and experts have been predicting this since last summer.
Even though we’ve been feeling its effects for a while, the U.S. Climate Prediction Center just confirmed it this week. They say there’s a good chance this weak La Niña will stick around until winter wraps up, but we might also see things shift back to normal by spring.
La Niña happens when the water in the eastern Pacific is cooler than usual for a few months. We just hit that mark, but the atmosphere has been acting like La Niña was here for a bit now. So, expect winter weather to follow the usual patterns we see during a La Niña year.
Forecasters are saying that most of Eastern Canada will likely be warmer than usual this winter, while Western Canada might feel a chill. That’s pretty typical for a La Niña winter.
On the flip side, Ontario and western Quebec can expect more rain and snow than usual. A bunch of low-pressure systems are heading our way, so get ready for some active weather!