Are fluctuating temperatures here to stay this winter?

Are fluctuating temperatures here to stay? Temperatures soared above seasonal norms in Waterloo Region. Hannah Schmidt looks into the reason why.

Waterloo Region residents traded snow boots for raincoats this weekend as temperatures soared above seasonal norms.

“These temperatures kind of drew us out today,” said Kitchener resident, Ryan McDonald. “I saw that it was nine degrees and we were like, ‘okay, let's go for a nice walk through the park.’”

The melting snow, combined with a downpour of rain, has swollen rivers and streams across the Grand River watershed, resulting in a flood warning from the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA).

“It absolutely is not the normal,” said Jaclyn Whittal, a meteorologist and climate change journalist with The Weather Network. “It seems like it's becoming the new normal. If you look back at the last 10 to 20 years, I think that we've seen more of these warm spells in and around December.”

While this warm snap might feel like a mid-winter break to some, others aren't too pleased.

“I miss the snow,” said Kitchener resident, Megann Friesen. “I really like the snow during the wintertime. Even in January and February it's nice having those like cozy nights in when it's snowing outside.”

Just days after opening their hills for the ski season, the Chicopee Ski Resort decided to close up shop after seeing the unusual weather forecast.

“The first thing is you got to get a bunch of snow on the ground so you can survive the rain, we'll close for the next two days because it's raining all day according to the weather,” said CEO, Bill Creighton.

According to The Weather Network, much milder air has spread across the country from west to east. As a result, temperatures are coming in 10 to 15 degrees warmer than normal for the final week of 2024.

Whittal says it’s another glaring reminder of global warming’s impact.

“We're in more of a neutral pattern, so we're neither El Nino or La Nina, and things seem to be taking a little longer than we anticipated to transition to that La Nina,” explained Whittal. “So, what ends up happening is with this storm that's moving up from the Gulf of Mexico, we also are experiencing 400 to 500 per cent of our normal atmospheric moisture in Ontario. You have these tropical like downpours that are going to be happening over the next 24 to 48 hours.”

But for those missing the snow and cold, Whittal says don’t pack up those skates and sleds just yet.

“Well, the temperatures are going to be fluctuating, so it's hard to say exactly what month will do what,” she said. “But we are expecting winter weather, and that's what most meteorologists would say that would be in place by now but it's taking a little longer.”

While it's welcome news for winter activity lovers, experts say this recent warm up should act as a wake-up call for Ontarians that white winters could soon be a thing of the past.

“It will take a long time for our earth to rebound from the damage that has already been caused. But that does not mean that we don't join hands and fight hard against climate change,” Whittal said.

“I think we wonder, like, what's it going to be like for the kids going forward?” Frieson questioned. “Are they going to have the same winter experiences that we had? Are they going to be able to, you know, go play with their friends for weeks on end? It was just so magical when you were younger.”