THUNDER BAY — Northwestern Ontario residents are in store for a pleasant autumn, if one long-range forecast proves accurate.
AccuWeather is predicting a warmer fall for much of central and eastern Canada including pretty well all of Ontario.
It also expects the Thunder Bay area and much of Northwestern Ontario to be drier than normal.
The company provides commercial weather forecasting services around the globe.
it says La Nina, the climatological phenomenon that occurs when sea-surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean drops below normal, will continue to play a major role in weather patterns across the country in the coming months.
"For the third consecutive year, La Nina will likely impact the overall weather pattern in Canada this upcoming season and perhaps into winter," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson.
One of the most significant factors for the fall forecast is how La Nina affects the position of the jet stream.
The jet stream determines the general track of stormy weather and, depending on the position, whether a region is drier or wetter than normal.
AccuWeather expects an active Pacific storm track to be directed into British Columbia this fall, which will favour above-normal rainfall for that area.
One of the most devastating flooding events in BC's history occurred during the La Nina-influenced fall of 2021, when southern BC was deluged with epic amounts of rain.
