Will Canada get a green Christmas this year? What to expect

A mild winter pattern is forecast to continue from coast to coast right through the holidays, says Global News’ chief meteorologist.

It’s looking like a green Christmas for much of Canada this year.

So far, it has been a warm December in many parts of the country and that mild pattern is forecast to continue from coast to coast right through the holidays, said Anthony Farnell, Global News’ chief meteorologist.

“For a huge chunk of the country, this is going to be a green Christmas,” he said. “And I don’t remember a time where this many major cities were either seeing a green Christmas or maybe leftover snow.”

It was a white Christmas in many parts of Canada last year as a severe winter storm slammed across the country, bringing heavy snowfall, strong winds and freezing rain.

However, no major snowfall or storms are forecast in the next week, Farnell said.

For Christmas Day on Dec. 25, nearly all the provinces are expected to see above seasonal temperatures – in some cases by 10 to 15 degrees – and that doesn’t bode well for heavy snowfall, he added.

After three consecutive La Niña winters, a moderate El Niño is now well established in the central Pacific Ocean, according to Farnell.

During El Niño years, trade winds weaken and the Pacific Ocean tends to release more heat into the atmosphere, making areas in the northern U.S. and Canada drier and warmer than usual.