Here are the weather predictions for this summer in southern Ontario

Summer is quickly approaching and Environment Canada just released its outlook for the season.

While summer doesn’t officially kick off until June 20 in Canada, southern Ontario residents have already experienced hot weather. This week, it is expected to feel like 34 C in parts of southern Ontario.

So, what will the summer be like in 2024?

There is a high probability of above-average temperatures for the summer season across Canada aside from coastal BC, said Jennifer Smith, Environment and Climate Change Canada national warning preparedness meteorologist during an online update today (June 11).

But Smith said the outlook doesn’t specify how high temperatures will be nor does it mean it will be continually hot.

“Daily weather will vary — expect heat waves, cool spells and all the fluctuations that summer weather brings,” said Smith.

The probability of above-average temperatures is higher in Ontario and other eastern parts of Canada, Smith noted.

These conditions are likely to result in other severe weather events, Environment Canada said in a post. 

Unfortunately, climate models were not able to make reliable predictions for rainfall for the summer months in much of Canada including southern Ontario. But there could be less rain than normal.

“Canadians need to be ready for a warmer summer that could also be met with drier conditions across the country,” Smith said.

The outlook also covered air quality. Last summer was the worst wildfire season on record and air quality was impacted, Smith noted.

Wildfire season could impact air quality again this year.

Human-induced climate change is the main factor behind summer warming between 1948 and 2012 across Canada, said Nathan Gilett, climate research scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“Climate change is affecting Canadians’ health, safety, and quality of life. We are already facing record-breaking climate conditions, with wildfires and extreme heat becoming more frequent,” Environment Canada wrote in the outlook press release.

🔴 #Live now: Join us as we present the seasonal outlook for #summer 2024. https://t.co/Yf6uOmYRh0

— Environment Canada (@environmentca) June 11, 2024

Lead photo: K Zoltan