Science shows climate change made summer heat waves much more likely

Canada releases June and July results from rapid extreme weather event attribution system

August 12, 2024– Ottawa, Ontario

Environment and Climate Change Canada has analyzed the heat waves that impacted Canada in June and July using its Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution system. The system uses climate models to compare today’s climate to a pre-industrial one to explain how much human-caused climate change affected each heat wave’s likelihood.

Using this system, climate scientists analyzed the heat waves experienced in the following regions and determined, in all instances, that human-caused climate change made these heat waves much more likely. This means that human influence on the climate made these events at least 2 to 10 times more likely to happen.

Understanding the causes and risks of extreme weather events can help Canadians make informed decisions that protect the health, safety, and long-term well-being of our communities. Prolonged heat waves are a major contributor to more intense wildfires across Canada. The 2023 wildfires in Canada burned almost 15 million hectares of forest and cost Canadians tens of billions of dollars in damages.

We urge the public to regularly monitor weather forecasts, take all weather alerts seriously, and get prepared for weather-related events by developing an emergency plan and being ready to adjust their travel plans. Canadians can download the WeatherCAN app to receive weather alert notifications directly on their mobile devices. Alerts help Canadians prepare to face severe weather events, save lives, and reduce the impacts on property and livelihoods.

Northern British Columbia (July 17 to 22)

• Peak temperature: 24.2 °C
• Degrees above average: 7.2 °C

Southern British Columbia (July 14 to 22)

• Peak temperature: 29.2 °C
• Degrees above average: 9.2 °C

Alberta (July 7 to 11)

• Peak temperature: 31.5 °C
• Degrees above average: 9.8 °C

Saskatchewan (July 17 to 22)

• Peak temperature: 30.9 °C
• Degrees above average: 8.0 °C

Fort Smith, Northwest Territories (July 15 to July 20)

• Peak temperature: 28.4 °C
• Degrees above average: 9.2 °C

Yukon (July 21 to July 26)

• Peak temperature: 23.0 °C
• Degrees above average: 6.5 °C

Kivalliq, Nunavut (June 30 to July 2)

• Peak temperature: 22.1 °C
• Degrees above average: 7.5 °C           

Yukon (June 26 to 30)

• Peak temperature: 21.4 °C
• Degrees above average: 5.3 °C

Inuvik, Northwest Territories (June 28 to 30)

• Peak temperature: 22.0 °C
• Degrees above average: 7.2 °C