B.C., Atlantic rainfalls a ‘glimpse into the future’ of Canada’s climate

With more rainfall expected in British Columbia and in areas of Atlantic Canada like Newfoundland, experts say the extreme weather is a glimpse into Canada's climate future.

The severe rainfall events happening on Canada’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts are a glimpse into the country’s climate future, experts say.

However, the impact of such extreme weather, like the massive flooding in British Columbia, can be managed if world leaders are able to limit climate change.

“There’s a new normal coming. … This is a glimpse into the future,” said Kent Moore, a professor of atmospheric physics at the University of Toronto.

“We’re seeing the effects of all the warming that’s happened in the last century and we’re going to continue to warm.”

This week, communities on Canada’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts are facing severe rainfall from two “atmospheric river” storms, which are giant bands of water vapour in the sky that can be several hundred kilometres long.

On the east coast, strong winds and heavy rain are hitting Atlantic Canada as part of a storm system moving its way up from the Caribbean.

Some areas, like the Halifax harbour, have recorded wind gusts of up to 107 km/h. Rainfall totals have surpassed 50 millimetres in several Maritime communities, and those numbers are expected to climb.

Environment Canada has said 100 to 150 mm of rain could fall across eastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, while southwestern Newfoundland could get up to 300 mm of rain over the next two days.