Canada is ‘losing winter days’ with increasingly warmer temperatures

Canadians will need to get used to increasingly warmer winter temperatures, according to a new report.

Climate Central recently released an analysis showing that climate change is significantly increasing the number of winter days with minimum temperatures above freezing, which are also known as “lost winter days.”

According to the report, countries across the Northern Hemisphere are losing winter days due primarily to climate change caused by burning oil, coal and methane gas.

Infographic from Climate Central

“Warming winters have a range of impacts for people, ecosystems, and industries,” reads the analysis.

“Warmer temperatures affect snow accumulation and ice coverage, with significant

consequences for winter sports and activities — and the people who make a living

from them.”

Climate Central found that 20 per cent (58 of 289) of Canada’s regions saw at least one additional week of above-freezing temperatures each year compared to a world without climate change. The regions are B.C., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Québec.

“Several of Canada’s biggest cities… experienced at least five additional days annually where temperatures were above freezing due to climate change, compared to a world without climate change,” reads the report.

Chart from Climate Central

Major cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton are losing up to 19 winter days annually as the weather warms due to climate change.

Among the provinces overall, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia saw the most

days above freezing added by climate change each year — about one week’s worth, on average. Regions in Canada with the most winter days where temperatures exceed 0 C due to climate change are mostly in B.C. and Ontario.

Chart from Climate Central

According to the report, places like Nanaimo, Niagara and Greater Vancouver lose up to 18 days of winter annually.

Climate Central analyzed the daily minimum temperatures during winter (December, January and February) over the past decade (2014 to 2023) to get these results.