Moncton 
The Farmers’ Almanac long-range winter forecast for Canada for 2024-25 calls “for a season of rain and snow with not much downtime” influenced by the development of La Niña.
The forecast anticipates below-normal temperatures for most of the country east of the Rockies through to Ontario, beginning as early as the winter solstice on December 21, 2024.
Here are the highlights of the forecast:
Credit: Canadian Farmers’ Almanac
- Temperature:
- Most areas from the Rockies to Ontario will experience below-normal temperatures.
- The coldest periods are expected from the Prairies to the Great Lakes, peaking in the last week of January through early February due to Arctic air.
- Quebec and the Maritimes are likely to see near to above-normal temperatures, while British Columbia will endure an unseasonably cool winter.
- Precipitation:
- Above-normal precipitation is forecasted for the eastern third of Canada, particularly around the Great Lakes.
- Newfoundland and Labrador are expected to have a predominantly wet winter with slushy conditions due to warmer temperatures.
- Quebec is predicted to have a snowy winter, with significant snow expected mid-February.
- Ontario will face a mix of snow and rain
- Prairies are likely to experience the whitest conditions.
- A wet winter is also expected in British Columbia, beneficial for mountain snow.
- The almanac specifically warns of a highly active storm track in late January, affecting the eastern half of Canada. This period, particularly from January 20-23 and 24-27, could bring a mix of snow, rain, sleet, and ice, accompanied by strong winds.
Farmers’ Almanac, established in 1818, bases its predictions on a confidential formula that includes sunspot activity, tidal action, and planetary positions among other astronomical and meteorological factors.
