By Darren Rathwell

A cooler winter: La Niña’s potential impact on the region and the prairies

Oct 15, 2021 | 5:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The weather phenomenon known as La Niña has returned for the second year in a row, and Canada’s weather agency says that could mean cooler winter weather this year for southern Alberta.

La Niña is widely considered to be a significant factor in weather around the globe, especially during the late fall, winter and early spring.

Environment Canada says the climate pattern usually means more snow in the mountains and colder weather for eastern Alberta, as well as Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Also, southern Alberta could be in for slightly cooler temps this winter, which is usually around -10 C during February (typically the coldest month of the year in Medicine Hat and area).

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However, other factors can come into play like was seen last winter when a pool of warm water in the Pacific Ocean helped give southern Alberta an unexpected warmer spell.

“The La Niña last year actually gave us a very warm December and January and then we got into a deep freeze in February,” Alysa Pederson, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada told CHAT News.

“And we have seen temperatures above normal for this time of year the last couple of weeks. It looks like that’s going to last through next week but we are getting into the winter season so it’s time to start thinking about snow,” Pederson added.

La Niña is expected to continue through the winter.