As we bid farewell to the warmth of summer, the Farmers’ Almanac has released its much-anticipated 2024–2025 winter weather map for Canada, and it’s painting a frosty picture for many regions.
According to the Almanac, this winter will feature a “heart of cold,” with big freezes and significant snowfall, especially in the central provinces.
Carol Connare, the Almanac’s editor-in-chief, offers a glimmer of hope for some, stating, “‘Temperate’ is on tap for most of the country this winter, but let it snow in Ontario!” The forecast predicts that Ontario and eastern Manitoba will bear the brunt of this winter’s most severe weather, with heavy snowfall and plunging temperatures, while much of the rest of Canada will enjoy a relative reprieve from incessant snow shovelling and bone-chilling cold.
For residents of Saskatchewan, there’s a slight sigh of relief—no towering snowbanks on the horizon. However, below-average temperatures will still dominate the region, ensuring a long, cold season. Southern British Columbia and Alberta are in for a similarly chilly experience, with intermittent snowstorms and a mix of other wintry precipitation. The southernmost areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan should also prepare for a damp winter with periods of snow punctuated by rain.
In Ontario, the forecast is particularly harsh. Colder-than-normal temperatures are expected across the province, with Southern Ontario set to experience above-average snowfall. The Almanac pinpoints early December, early and late January, and late February as the coldest periods, while the snowiest stretches will hit in early November, December, January, February, and early March.
But it’s not all bleak news for the year ahead. The Almanac also hints at a gardener’s paradise come summer 2025, with balmy temperatures and ample moisture across northern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and southern Ontario. This promising forecast suggests a lush, vibrant growing season, with less need for watering and more time to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
This winter outlook aligns with an earlier forecast from Farmers’ Almanac Canada, which also warned of a tumultuous season with a mix of snow, rain, and below-normal temperatures.
Both predictions agree: Ontario is in for a messy winter, so make the most of the remaining warm days and the colourful fall ahead before we’re all buried in the cold, slushy grip of another Canadian winter.
