Canadian winters are melting due to climate change

Over the past decade, cities around the world, including those in Canada, have lost winter days when temperatures dropped below 0°C, according to a report from Climate Central. These “lost winter days” impact skiing, skating and drinking water supplies.

The analysis shows that between 2014 and 2023 during the months of December, January and February, the days where temperatures were below freezing in several Canadian metropolises were fewer, compared to a world without global warming .

Vancouver, the most affected city

Vancouver would be the Canadian city that loses the most days with temperatures below 0°C in Canada, with 19 fewer days of frost per year.

Toronto follows in the list, with 13 days fewer, then Montreal, with 6 days fewer.

The most affected regions – the West Coast, southern Ontario and the Atlantic provinces – are also experiencing an increase in temperatures above 0°C.

British Columbia is the hardest hit, as it is a coastal region that naturally hovers around the freezing threshold, as opposed to Canada’s interior, which is often well belowexplains Kristina Dahl, vice president of science at Climate Central.

Winter temperatures are increasing and will continue to increase. What the report shows is a reflection of this increase in winter temperaturesexplains Bob Whitewood, climate scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

These recent changes are very noticeable, as snow turns to rain when temperatures rise above the freezing point of 0°C.

Winter sports in danger

In British Columbia, ski resorts, which generate more than $2 billion in economic benefits and employ more than 20,000 people, are already suffering the consequences of warmer winters.

The 2023-2024 ski season in Whistler was marked by a lack of snow, as the province grappled with exceptionally mild temperatures.

Research by Sapna Sharma, professor of biology at the University of York, reveals that melting of lake ice during winter is becoming increasingly common due to climate change, which could put an end to outdoor sports. air such as ice fishing and hockey and disrupt fish spawning.

When the temperature goes above and below freezing more often, the ice is weakened. With 4°C warming, we could lose up to 29 days of safe iceexplains the professor.

Water resources

The reduction in the number of frost episodes causes other effects, such as the reduction of water resources.

When we think about water supplies, many areas rely on a healthy, deep snowpack as spring approaches. Without it, there is less water for the driest, hottest months of the year for human useexplains Kristina Dahl.

Shorter, warmer winters would also encourage earlier thaws in the spring and late freezes in the fall, making pollen allergies worse.

A global phenomenon

Climate Central analyzed temperatures in 901 cities and 123 countries.

Kristina Dahl was surprised to see the scale of the phenomenon in the Northern Hemisphere. About a third [des 123 pays] lost a week of winter days during this 10-year period compared to what they would have experienced in the absence of climate change.

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Climate change would have a pronounced effect in Europe, particularly for some countries, such as Denmark and Estonia, which lose up to three weeks of frost.

The holiday season

Will it be cold enough to snow? Will I be able to go sledding with my child? asks Sapna Sharma as the holidays approach.

The effects of climate change during the holiday season have particular resonance for many people, notes Kristina Dahl. When we see the season change and the lack of snow outside, we don’t get the same warm feeling.

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The report attributes the increase in days above 0°C to the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas.

The good news is that temperatures should respond quite quickly once we stop emitting greenhouse gasessays Kristina Dahl.

According to the latest scientific studies, temperatures would stop increasing within ten years of stopping emissions [de gaz à effet de serre]. So, you know, even in our lifetime we could see this changeshe said.