Environment Canada forecasts hot, humid summer across Canada

After a cold, snowy winter, Canada is bracing for a hot, humid summer. Environment and Climate Change Canada released its three-month outlook Friday, predicting above-average temperatures across the whole country, with the strongest warm signals in British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, the northern prairies, and Atlantic Canada.

Metorologist Jennifer Smith noted that while the trend is warmer, "day-to-day weather will continue to be shaped by passing weather systems and local influences like cold fronts, thunderstorms, and onshore breezes."

Climate change is the biggest driver. Canada is warming at nearly twice the global rate, with average summer temperatures up 1.65°C since 1948. Nathan Gillett, a research scientist with ECCC, said that shift means "we're going to see warm anomalies more often than cold anomalies."

This year is also expected to develop a particularly strong El Niño, the ocean-warming phenomenon that can bring hotter conditions across southern Canada earlier than usual.

Humidity will be another challenge. Higher specific humidity—the amount of water vapour in the air—can make temperatures feel much warmer and hinder the body's ability to cool down, especially overnight when people rely on temperature drops to sleep.