Super El Niño expected to hit by June; dramatic weather in southern Quebec likely

Environment Canada (ECCC) says a super El Niño is expected to emerge and warm the Pacific Ocean by June, and the odds of extreme weather in Quebec is high.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says a super El Niño is expected to emerge and warm the Pacific Ocean by June.

“What it means is that it is a super strong event. So we are like two degrees or more than normal in that region of the Central Pacific,” meteorologist Simon Legault says.

While Quebec is far from the Pacific, the weather phenomenon can lead to a chain of weather events felt around the globe. In areas like western Canada, Legault says it could mean higher drought and wildfire risk.

“They are more affected than we are [in southern Quebec,] but our region is more prone to being affected by Atlantic circulation and Atlantic oscillation,” he explained.

Legault says there’s a 90 per cent chance of El Niño developing this year. Coupled with global warming, the odds of extreme weather in southern Quebec are higher.

He says El Niño could also lead to record-breaking world temperatures this year and next.

Forecasters say it’s too soon to predict summer rain patterns for now. However, the best thing Canadians can do is stay weather alert.

“Just be ready to face everything that might be coming. So [with] warmer temperatures ... drink a little bit more. Stay in the shady areas and just if it gets rainy too much, you just have to prevent flooding,” Legault told CTV News.