MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –
Source: Government of Canada – in French 1
Analyses using Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Rapid Attribution System for Extreme Weather Events show that, in all cases, human-induced climate change has increased the likelihood of the August 2024 heat waves, and in some cases by at least 10 times.
September 25, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario
Analyses carried out using the Rapid attribution system for extreme weather events Environment and Climate Change Canada’s data show that, in all cases, human-caused climate change has increased the likelihood of August 2024 heat waves, and by at least 10 times in some cases.
This system uses climate models to compare today’s climate to that of the pre-industrial period to explain how human-caused climate change has affected the likelihood of each heat wave.
In three cases, human-induced climate change has made these heat waves significantly more likely. This means that human influence on the climate has made the following events at least ten times more likely.
Inuvik (Northwest Territories) (August 6-10)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 26.5°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 13.0°C
Kitikmeot (Nunavut) (August 7-12)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 25.0°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 12.4°C
Kivalliq, Nunavut (August 8 to 14)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 27.1°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 12.2°C
In seven cases, human-caused climate change made these heat waves much more likely. This means that human influence on the climate made the following events at least two to ten times more likely.
Atlantic Canada (August 24-27)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 23.9°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 6.7°C
Eastern Ontario (July 31 to August 2)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 29.2°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 5.8°C
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories (August 8-13)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 26.9°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 9.2°C
Northern British Columbia (August 7-11)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 23.6°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 7.0°C
Northern Quebec (August 13 to 16)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 23.6°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 7.8°C
Southern Quebec (July 27 to August 3)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 28.3°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 7.6°C
Yukon (August 5-9)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 24.1°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 8.9°C
Finally, human-caused climate change has made subsequent heat waves more likely. This means that human influence on the climate has made subsequent events at least one to two times more likely.
Manitoba (July 30 to August 1)
Daily peak temperature during heatwave: 28.3°C Degrees above normal daily maximum*: 6.4°C
*The normal daily maximum is an average of all average daily maximum temperatures for a region between 1991 and 2020 over a one-month period around the event.
Prolonged heat waves are a major factor driving increased wildfire activity in Canada. The 2023 wildfires in Canada burned nearly 15 million hectares of forest and cost Canadians tens of billions of dollars in damages.[1]. It is important to understand how human influence on climate has increased the likelihood of a particular heatwave shortly after it has occurred. This understanding helps inform adaptation strategies and intervention efforts in the context of climate change, while the heatwave and its impacts are still fresh in the mind.
We urge the population to regularly monitor weather forecasts, to take all weather warnings seriously and to prepare weather hazards by developing an emergency plan or adapting their travel arrangements. Canadians can download the app WeatherCAN to receive weather alert notifications directly to their mobile devices. Weather alerts help Canadians prepare for severe weather, save lives and reduce impacts to property and livelihoods.
[1] P. Jain, QE Barber, SW Taylor, et al., Drivers and Impacts of the Record-Breaking 2023 Wildfire Season in Canada, Nature Communications 15, 6764 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51154-7 (in English only)
Media RelationsEnvironment and Climate Change Canada819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)media@ec.gc.ca
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.