# Canadian Weather Guide ## Posts - [What is a drought](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/what-is-a-drought/): What Is A Drought? A drought is a prolonged period of time during which there is significantly less water available than normal. A drought can last almost any amount of time, from a few weeks to several years, depending on the location. There are several things that can cause a drought: lack of moisture in the air, climate change, El Nino, and simple bad luck, as is especially the case in many short-term droughts.  Many places in the Horn of Africa, including countries like Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan and South Sudan, are included in this area. The Middle East, landlocked […] - [The Weather Of Jupiter](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/the-weather-of-jupiter/): What Is Jupiter? Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun, and the first of the gas giants. It is known for its large size, great red spot, large number of moons, and proximity to the asteroid belt.  It is the largest planet in the solar system, larger than every other object in the solar system other than the sun. Its mass is over twice as much as all seven other planets in the solar system put together. It is over ten times as wide as the Earth, and over 1000 times the overall size of the Earth. However, these […] - [A Year Of Weather In Victoria](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-victoria/): What Is The Climate Like In Victoria? According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Victoria has a Csb climate. This means it has a temperate climate, a dry summer, and a warm summer.  The C means that the city has a temperate climate. This means that it has at least one month with an average temperature below 18 C (64 F), one month with an average temperature above 10 C (50 F), no month with an average temperature below freezing, and has a decent enough amount of precipitation. If it didn’t have any month with an average temperature below 18 C […] - [How Does Snow Salt Melt Ice?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-does-snow-salt-melt-ice/): What Is Snow Salt? Snow salt, also known as road salt, is a type of salt used in the winter time to get snow, and especially ice, to melt faster. It does this by lowering the melting point of the ice, meaning that said ice will often freeze at a temperature around -10 C (14 F). Many types of salt often increase the level of friction, helping tires get a better grip on the ground. This is why it is used in several places, with government vehicles clearing it after a particularly brutal storm. This can make it easier for […] - [What Are The Odds Of A White Christmas In Your City](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/what-are-the-odds-of-a-white-christmas-in-your-city/): What Is The Origin Of A White Christmas? A white Christmas refers to the idea that the day of Christmas (December 25) is covered in at least some amount of snow. This is something that is so depicted in modern culture, at least in Canada, that it’s something we currently take for granted, at least for those who celebrate (if you don’t, I hope you enjoy whichever holiday you do celebrate). However, it has not always been associated with the time of year, and it isn’t even close to a global trend. The idea of a white Christmas would probably […] - [What Is A Temperate Climate?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/what-is-a-temperate-climate/): What Is A Temperate Climate? A temperate climate is one of the five types of climate according to the Koppen Climate Classification. It is defined as having at least one month with an average temperature of 18 °C (64 °F) or lower, one month with an average temperature of above 10 °C (50°F), and no month with an average temperature below freezing. It also has a moderate or high amount of precipitation.  The other four types of climate besides temperate (C) are tropical, dry, continental and polar. A tropical climate (A) has no month where the average temperature is below […] - [A Year Of Weather In Whitehorse](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-whitehorse/): What Is The Climate Like In Whitehorse? According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Whitehorse is a Dfc climate. This means it is a continental climate with no dry season and a cold summer.  A continental climate (D) is one where there is at least one month with an average total temperature of 10 °C (50°F) or higher, and at least one month where there is an average temperature of below freezing. There are certain traits that are most common in a continental climate, but not exclusive to it. These include an increase in severe storms, like thunderstorms and tornadoes (although […] - [Has There Ever Been A Category 6 Hurricane?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/has-there-ever-been-a-category-6-hurricane/): Has There Ever Been A Category 6 Hurricane? No, officially, there has never been a category 6 hurricane. It however could be argued that some particularly powerful storms that are powerful, even by category 5 status, could be seen as category 6, if the title existed. What Is Meant By Category 6 Hurricane? A category 6 hurricane refers to a theoretical storm measured on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Officially, the scale only goes up to category 5, which refers to a hurricane that has wind speeds of 252 km/h (157 mph) or more. This makes it different from the Fujita Scale, […] - [How To Drive On Snow And Ice](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-to-drive-on-snow-and-ice/): Why Are Snow And Ice Dangerous? Snow, and even worse, ice, create some of the most dangerous driving conditions possible because of how slippery they are, making things like turning and braking very dangerous. In fact, November and December have an almost 50% increase in collisions due to all the ice and snow present. One of the most dangerous driving conditions on the road is black ice, which is transparent ice that is difficult to see and can cause slipping since it’s so unexpected. When Should I Use Winter Tires? Switching to winter tires is likely the first step you […] - [Least Humid Cities In Canada](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/least-humid-cities-in-canada/): What Is Humidity? Simply put, humidity is the amount of moisture or water vapour in the air. There are two ways to measure humidity: absolute humidity and relative humidity. Absolute humidity works in a grams per cubic meter range. For example, if the average is 3 grams of water vapour per cubic meter, it will say that. However, the more common measurement that is heard in everyday weather reports is relative humidity, which is expressed as a percentage. In this scenario, 100% humidity means that the air is holding as much water vapour as it can. When the humidity is […] - [A Year Of Weather In Quebec City](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-quebec-city/): What Is The Climate Like In Quebec City? According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Quebec City is listed as a Dfb climate, or a continental climate with a warm summer and no major differences in precipitation between seasons. A continental climate, which is the D in Dfb, is characterized by at least one month with an average temperature of 10 °C (50°F) and at least one month with a temperature below 0 °C (32 °F). Continental climates are known for having four distinct seasons throughout the year, with clear differences between spring, summer, fall, and winter. They also often feature […] - [The Weather Of Mars](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/the-weather-of-mars/): What Is Mars? Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. It is known for its red colour, small size, proximity to Earth, and for being a common home for aliens in works of science fiction. It is approximately 1.5 times as far from the sun as Earth is, and has about half the diameter of Earth. It is the second-smallest planet in the solar system, larger than Mercury and all other objects in the solar system, except for the other planets and the Sun. It formed at around the same time as all the other planets, 4.5 billion years […] - [A Quick Biography Of Ted Fujita](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-quick-biography-of-ted-fujita/): Why Was Ted Fujita And What Is He Known For? Tedsuya Theodore Fujita (Or Ted Fujita for short) is a Japanese-American meteorologist who is known for his work studying tornadoes. His work in the study of tornadoes was so instrumental that he got the nickname “Mr. Tornado”. He is most well known for creating the Fujita scale, which was the first and most well-known scale used in measuring the power of a tornado, using wind speed. It categorizes tornadoes in power, with F0 being the most common and least damaging, to F5, which is the strongest and extremely rare. An […] - [Hurricane Huron - An Unusual Storm In The Great Lakes](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/hurricane-huron-an-unusual-storm-in-the-great-lakes/): What Was Hurricane Huron? Hurricane Huron, also known as the 1996 Lake Huron Cyclone, the 1996 Great Lakes Cyclone, or “The Hurroncane” was a storm that occurred over the Great Lakes in September of 1996. The storm had the sustained strength as a tropical storm, with some brief gusts reaching hurricane strength. It should be noted that this storm was never officially named “Hurricane Huron” due to not being part of the ‘official’  1996 hurricane season, but was given that nickname due to the fact that it was at its most powerful while it was over Lake Huron.   When […] - [A Year Of Weather In Fredericton](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-fredericton/): What Is The Weather Like In Fredericton? Fredericton is, according to the Koppen Climate Classification, a Dfb climate, which means a warm summer continental climate, with no major differences in precipitation during different times of year. The D in Dfb refers to the fact that the main category it falls into is a continental climate, which is a climate where there is at least one month where the average temperature is below 18 C (64 F) and at least one month with an average temperature above 10 C (50 F), and at least one month with an average temperature below […] - [Weather And Halloween](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/weather-and-halloween/): How Can Weather Impact Halloween? Halloween isn’t something that makes you think of weather. You don’t dream of a certain type of weather on Halloween the way you might dream of a white Christmas. It’s not like Easter or Groundhog Day, which you might associate with spring and flowers first emerging. Even Thanksgiving, which is only a few weeks away from Halloween, is already associated with fall, the time of year when Halloween occurs. If you’re the type of person who just wants to stay at home and watch some scary movies, bad weather might actually be a good thing. […] - [Can Weather Impact Soccer?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/can-weather-impact-soccer/): Is There A History Of Weather Impacting Soccer? Yes, many important soccer games in history have been impacted by rain. One of the most notable was the 1954 World Cup final between West Germany and Hungary, which was played in heavy rain. Hungary was favoured to win the match, due to a combination of them winning an earlier round robin match between the two teams 8-3, as well as having dominated South Korea 9-0 earlier in the tournament, and victories against powerhouses Uruguay and Brazil. However, Germany ended up winning the match in a 3-2 comeback. However, there is a […] - [What Is A Dry Climate?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/what-is-a-dry-climate/): What Is A Dry Climate? A dry climate is one of the five types of climate on Earth, according to the Koppen Climate Classification. Unlike the others, this one is defined by its level of precipitation, while the others are all defined by their temperature. Tropical (A) refers to any climate where every month has an average temperature of 18 °C (64°F) or higher in an average year. Temperate (C) and continental (D) climates both have at least one month with an average temperature of at least 10°C (50°F) or higher, and at least one month with an average temperature […] - [A Year Of Weather In Ottawa](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-ottawa/): What Is The Climate Like In Ottawa? Ottawa’s climate, according to the Koppen Climate classification, is Dfb. This means that Ottawa has a continental climate, with minimal variation in precipitation throughout the year and a warm summer. The (D) in Dfb refers to Ottawa having a continental climate. A continental climate has at least one month where the average temperature is above 10 °C (50°F), and at least one month with an average temperature below 0 °C (32°F). This type of climate is known for having four distinct seasons and some of the most severe storms in the world. This […] - [What Is A WaterSpout?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/what-is-a-waterspout/): What Is A Waterspout? A waterspout is the name given to a column of rotating air that occurs over water. There are two types of waterspouts: fair-weather waterspouts, which are dangerous due to the fact that they can form unexpectedly, and tornadic waterspouts, which are scary due to the raw power that they have. What Is A Fair-Weather Waterspout? A fair-weather waterspout can develop in otherwise completely calm conditions and usually begins to form with wind blowing at or near the surface of the water, and the whirling winds climb upwards. Looking at the water, you will see a light-colored […] - [Most Humid Cities In Canada](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/most-humid-cities-in-canada/): What Is Humidity? Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air. There are two ways humidity is measured: absolute humidity and relative humidity. The first way to measure it is absolute humidity, which measures how much water vapor is present based on the grams of water vapor in an average cubic meter. The second way to measure it is the one more commonly used in everyday weather reports, known as relative humidity. Relative humidity is expressed as a percentage, specifically the percentage of water vapour in the air compared to how much water vapour can be held in […] - [Weather On Venus](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/weather-on-venus/): What Is Venus? Venus is the second planet from the sun within our solar system. It is often referred to as Earth’s “sister planet” due to the numerous similarities between the two planets. It averages being around 0.72 AU (about 72% as far from the sun as Earth), while being about 82% as massive as the Earth, with about 86% as much volume, and a radius of about 95% that of Earth. It is the most similar to Earth according to each of these numbers, giving plenty of truth to this name. Due to its proximity to Earth and respectable […] - [A Year Of Weather In Iqaluit](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-iqaluit/): What Is The Climate Like In Iqaluit? According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Iqaluit is classified as a ET (Polar Tundra) climate, which is unsurprisingly characterized by very low temperatures. The (E) in ET stands for Polar. It is the fifth out of the five types of climates. The other four are tropical (A), dry (B), temperate (C) and continental (D). A tropical climate (A) is one where, in an average year, the average temperature will be 18 °C (64°F) or higher every month in the year. A dry climate (B) is one where a certain threshold of precipitation, calculated […] - [How To Prepare For A Hurricane](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-to-prepare-for-a-hurricane/): What Is A Hurricane? A hurricane is the most powerful type of storm in the world. Also called a typhoon or cyclone in other areas of the world, a hurricane is known for having high-speed winds, heavy rain and lightning. It can be described as being the ultimate thunderstorm, except with winds often nearly or as strong as a tornado, with rain to match, and much larger. A hurricane is often around 500 km (311 miles) wide, although they can be both much bigger and much smaller. At the time this article was written, the largest hurricane ever was Typhoon […] - [The 2021 Western North American Heat Wave](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/the-2021-western-north-american-heat-wave/): What Was The 2021 Western North American Heat Wave? The 2021 Western North American heatwave was a period in June and July 2021 that exposed parts of western North America to extreme heat, causing major problems for the people living in those areas. Both Canada and America were hit, both primarily along the west coast, with the heat wave travelling to the East as it continued. It is noted for creating the hottest temperature on record in Canada, while also setting over 100 heat records in Canada at the time, as well as setting several heat records in the United […] - [Has There Ever Been An F6 Tornado?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/has-there-ever-been-an-f6-tornado/): Has There Ever Been An F6 Tornado? Officially, no, there has never been an F6 tornado, as the highest official rating is an F5, or EF5. However, there have been tornadoes in the past that were originally rated as an F6 and then downgraded, or were debated to be powerful or damaging enough to warrant the title of F6. What Is Meant By F6 Tornado? An F6 tornado refers to a tornado powerful enough to be ranked ahead of F5 on the Fujita Scale, which was created by Ted Fujita to measure how destructive a tornado is. Officially, there are […] - [A Year Of Weather In Calgary](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-calgary/): What Is Calgary’s Climate Like? According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Calgary is listed as a Dwb climate. This means it has a continental climate, as well as a dry winter and a warm summer. The (D) in Dwb refers to the city having a continental climate, which is characterised by at least one month with an average temperature above 10°C (50°F) and at least one month with an average temperature below freezing. The other four types of climate are tropical (A), where every month has an average temperature of 18 C (64 F), dry (B), which is defined by […] - [Weather Terminology](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/weather-terminology/): Acid Rain: Rain (or any precipitation) that has higher acidity (lower pH) than normal rain. Generally, rain’s pH is near 7, and acid rain has a pH level of 5.6 or lower. Acid rain can be very damaging to plants and man-made structures. Atmospheric Pressure: The force that the air around a certain area uses to “push” on the area around it. High pressure pushes humid air down, which usually leads to clearer skies. Low pressure often pushes such air further up, leading to the creation of clouds and even thunderstorms. Atmospheric River: A long, thin area of sky that […] - [What Is A Tropical Climate](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/what-is-a-tropical-climate/): What Is A Tropical Climate? A tropical climate is one of the 5 types of climate according to the Koppen Climate Classification. Any place that falls under the tropical climate classification will have its climate type start with an (A) in the Koppen Climate classification. The other four types of climates are dry (B), temperate (C), continental (D), and polar (E). A dry climate typically experiences little to no precipitation. Temperate and continental climates generally indicate four distinct seasons, with temperate climates generally being warmer than continental climates. Polar climates are generally quite cold throughout the year. Tropical climates are […] - [A Year Of Weather In St. John's](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-st-johns/): What Is The Climate Of St. John’s? According to the Koppen Climate Classification, St. John’s is listed as a Dfb climate. This means a continental climate with no dry season and a warm summer. Other major cities in Canada with this classification are Montreal, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Halifax, among others. The (D) in Dfb refers to the fact that the city has a continental climate. There are five categories this can fall under, with the others beingTropical (A), Dry (B), Temperate (C), and Polar (D). Tropical refers to a climate where the average temperature is 18 °C (64°F) or higher […] - [How Scientifically Accurate Is The Day After Tomorrow?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-scientifically-accurate-is-the-day-after-tomorrow/): What Is The Day After Tomorrow? The Day After Tomorrow is a 2004 disaster movie about climate change causing an ice age. It is based on a book titled “The Coming Global Superstorm,” written by Art Bell and Whitley Strieber. The Day After Tomorrow was directed by Roland Emmerich, who is famous for creating other disaster movies, including both Independence Day movies, 1998 Godzilla (the one in New York), 2012, Moonfall, and others. Actors in the film include Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ian Holm, Emmy Rossum and Sela Ward. The film was shot in Montreal, and at the time of […] - [Driest Cities In Canada By Region](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/driest-cities-in-canada-by-region/): Why Are Some Cities Drier Than Others There are several reasons why some cities experience drier conditions (less precipitation) than others. Probably the largest factor in determining whether a city is one of the driest cities in Canada is how close it is to water, especially being near an ocean. Being close to a relatively large body of water such as a lake or something like Hudson’s Bay can have a rather large impact on how much precipitation that a city gets, however being near an Ocean is even more drastic, meaning that the cities on the west and east […] - [Weather Of Mercury](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/weather-of-mercury/): What Is Mercury? Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and is also the smallest of the eight planets in the solar system, although it was considered the second smallest when Pluto was considered a planet. It is so small that three moons are larger than it, Jupiter’s moons Ganymede and Callisto, and Saturn’s moon Titan. Its proximity to Earth means that despite its small size, you can see it with your naked eye if you look closely enough. It has been known about since before BC times and is named after the Roman messenger of the gods. It […] - [A Year Of Weather In Toronto](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-toronto/): What Is The Climate Of Toronto? According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Toronto is listed as a Dfa (continental climate with no dry season and a hot summer). This makes it one of the warmest cities in Canada, and is consistent with the rest of southern Ontario, with cities such as Hamilton being in the same situation. There are many other cities that have continental climates but don’t have hot summers, such as Montreal, Edmonton, and Halifax. A continental climate (D) is one of the five primary categories, with the others being Tropical (A), Dry (B), Temperate (C) and Tundra […] - [How To Prepare For A Thunderstorm](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-to-prepare-for-a-thunderstorm/): What Are Thunderstorms? Thunderstorms, also known as lightning storms, are storms that often contain thunder and lightning. Rain, hail, and heavy winds are also very common occurrences within thunderstorms. Although they are found with many types of clouds present, cumulonimbus clouds are the ones most commonly found when thunderstorms are present. It is even possible that something such as a tornado can spawn from thunderstorms, especially when supercell clouds are present. It would be somewhat accurate, although a massive oversimplification, to say that a thunderstorm is a small, very mild hurricanes with much weaker winds. How Do Thunderstorms Form? Thunderstorms […] - [The Regina Tornado](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/the-regina-tornado/): What Was The Regina Tornado? The Regina Tornado was, at the time this article is being written, the deadliest tornado in Canadian history. This means that it killed more people than even the Black Friday tornado and the 2007 Elie tornado. It caught the city of Regina completely off guard, partly due to the lack of tornado knowledge and warnings at the time, and partly because it was extraordinarily sudden. The city was preparing for Dominion Day (now known as Canada Day), and the residents had adorned the city with flags. Despite its small physical size and short duration, it […] - [Can You Really Fry An Egg On The Sidewalk?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/can-you-really-fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk/): When Did People Start Saying Fry An Egg On The Sidewalk? The oldest known use of this phrase was in a 1899 issue of the Atlanta Constitution, as part of an article titled “How to Keep Cool” written by Dr. Francis Henry Wade. He wrote in one section: “With the thermometer cavorting away up among the nineties, with the bricks of the sidewalks hot enough to fry eggs, with ‘heat prostrations’ and sun strokes ‘filling bodies with anguish and bosoms with fear,’ as the poet puts it, the question ‘How to keep cool?’ becomes an all-absorbing one of the hour […] - [A Year Of Weather in Montreal](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-montreal/): What Is Climate Like In Montreal? Montreal is seen as a Dfb climate, (continental, no dry season, warm summer), according to the Koppen Climate Classification, which gives a basic overview of the climate of every location on Earth, grading everything into helpful categories. This Dfb climate classification is also experienced in Edmonton, Halifax, and Winnipeg, among others. The D in Dfb refers to a continental climate. The other types are tropical climate (A), dry climate (B), temperate climate (C), and polar climate (E). Tropical climates are generally very warm and rainy, with every month having an average temperature of 18 […] - [Snowiest Cities In Canada By Province](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/snowiest-cities-in-canada-by-province/): Why Are Some Cities Snowier Than Others? There are many reasons why some places are snowier than others, although as one would expect, most are tied to temperature and precipitation. Obviously, colder places, most of which are further north, will get more snow. However, coastal cities tend to have warmer winters, meaning that cities such as Vancouver getting very little snow despite getting so much precipitation, and having relatively cool temperatures (compared to the rest of the world). Here are some of the snowiest cities in Canada. Snowiest Cities In The Territories The territories are known for being extremely cold, […] - [The Saffir-Simpson Scale](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/the-saffir-simpson-scale/): What Is The Saffir-Simpson Scale? The Saffir-Simpson Scale is the official way to measure tropical cyclones based on wind speed. Tropical cyclones, which can be known as hurricanes (in the Atlantic Ocean and North East Pacific Ocean), Typhoons (in the Northwest Pacific Ocean), or Cyclones (In the Indian Ocean and South Pacific), are the most destructive storms on Earth, The Saffir Simpson Scale grades them on power, with each tier being known as a ‘category’. If you have ever heard of a hurricane referred to as something such as a ‘category 2’, this is what it refers to. The larger […] - [The Fujita Scale](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/the-fujita-scale/): What Is The Fujita Scale? The Fujita scale was used to measure the strength of tornadoes. Although technically outdated, according to meteorologists and scientists in Canada and America, it is still in use in everyday conversation in both countries. It was created by Japanese-American meteorologist Ted Fujita. It was used accurately in the movie Twister to explain the strength of tornadoes to uninitiated audience members. It measured tornadoes, with the weakest measurement being F0, and the strongest ranking being F5. Although the theoretical idea of an F6 was proposed, it was officially described as ‘inconceivable’ by Fujita, and no tornado […] - [A Year Of Weather In Yellowknife](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-yellowknife/): What Is Climate Like In Yellowknife? Even though Yellowknife is within the Northwest Territories, which is known for being very cold, Yellowknife is not considered to be a “polar” climate. On the Koppen Climate Classification,  it is officially stated as a Dfc climate, defined as being a continental climate (D), with no dry season (f), and having a cold summer (c). A continental climate is one of the five classifications of the Koppen Climate Classification, with the others being tropical (A), dry (B), temperate (C), and polar (E). Tropical climates are the warmest, dry climates represent places such as deserts, […] - [How Scientifically Accurate Is Twister?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-scientifically-accurate-is-twister/): Disclaimer: This movie contains spoilers for the 1996 movie Twister. Continue at your own risk. What Is Twister? Twister is a 1996 disaster/thriller/action movie that was directed by Jan de Bont (known for also directing Speed), and written by Toronto’s Ann-Marie Martin, and her husband Michael Crighton, who is known for writing the original Jurassic Park novel. It’s about a group of storm chasers, who track tornadoes in Oklahoma. In the movie, Jo (Helen Hunt), who was a child when she saw her father killed by a powerful twister, is the leader of the team of storm chasers that the […] - [Types Of Clouds](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/types-of-clouds/): What Are Clouds? Clouds are large groups of water droplets that are heavy and condensed enough to become visible while in the sky. Some clouds can be as low as 2000 metres, while others are over 20,000 metres high. They often coincidentally take the shape of familiar-looking objects, and when the mass of the clouds, rain can fall. How Do Clouds Form? Clouds form when water evaporates into the air. The water droplets come together, which forms clouds. However, not all clouds are identical. Some clouds are different in how they are formed, how high up in the atmosphere they […] - [Hurricane Fiona](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/hurricane-fiona/): What Was Hurricane Fiona? Hurricane Fiona was a powerful hurricane that hit seven countries, including Canada in 2022. It is known for the large amount of damage that it did to Puerto Rico, and for being the most powerful storm to hit Canada at the time, although it was surpassed two years later by Hurricane Debby. While in Canada, it hit all four Atlantic provinces and left an unforgettable scar on the lives of those who lived through it. Partially due to the immense impact that it had on eastern Canada, the name Fiona was permanently retired from the Atlantic […] - [Least Windy Cities In Canada](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/least-windy-cities-in-canada/): What Is Wind And How Is It Caused? Wind is what happens when there is a difference in atmospheric pressure in two different areas. When two areas near each other have different levels of air pressure, air from the area of high pressure will travel to the area of lower pressure. The greater the difference in air pressure between the two locations, the greater the wind speed. The air going from a place of extremely high pressure to extremely low pressure will create a stronger wind than in scenarios where the difference is less extreme. Things like the Coriolis effect […] - [A Year Of Weather In Vancouver](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-vancouver/): What Is Climate Like In Vancouver? According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Vancouver has a Cfb climate (temperate, with no dry season and a warm summer). A temperate climate (C) is defined as having at least one month with an average temperature of above 10 C (50 F), with the coldest month averaging between freezing and 18 C (64 F). Temperate climates have a lot in common with continental climates (D), in that both see a large difference between the four seasons. In many cases, the local leaves change colours in the fall, although this is not a universal feature […] - [How Weather Can Impact Football](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-weather-can-impact-football/): Is There A History Of Weather Impacting Football? Simply put, yes, the weather has historically been able to impact football at all levels, just like it does for any sport that happens outdoors. It has even decided this country’s championship, as there is a history of how extreme Grey Cup weather impacts the outcome of the game. Things like wind, temperature, precipitation, as well as fog and smog, can impact a football game in many ways. How Wind Can Impact Football? Wind can have a massive impact on both the passing game and the kicking game in football. It almost […] - [El Niño](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/el-nino/): What Is El Niño? El Niño is the largest weather system in the world and can impact the weather in almost every continent for several months at a time. How Does El Niño form? El Niño occurs when winds in the Pacific Ocean are disrupted. Usually, winds blow warm water from the east coasts of the South Pacific Ocean (the west coast of South America) to the western Pacific Ocean, near Australia. These winds are called trade winds. As this happens, the warm water in the East Pacific is replaced with cooler water that was previously below the surface. This […] - [Canada's Tornado Alley](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/canadas-tornado-alley/): What Is Tornado Alley? Tornado Alley traditionally refers to a region of the United States that is hit by tornadoes at an unusually high rate. Although there is no formal agreement on the exact borders of tornado alley, most meteorologists agree that part or all of Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, both Dakotas, Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico are contained within it. The vast majority of tornadoes and an even higher portion of very powerful tornadoes occur within this area, with F4 and F5 tornadoes outside of this range being almost completely unheard of. With […] - [A Year Of Weather In Edmonton](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-edmonton/): What Is The Climate Like In Edmonton? The climate in Edmonton, according to the Koppen Climate Classification, is officially referred to as a Dfb climate. This means that it has a continental climate (D), no rainy or dry season (f), and a warm summer (b). A continental climate is one of five classifications in the Koppen Climate Classification, the others being tropical (A), dry (B), temperate (C) and Polar (E). Tropical weather is generally warm and rainy, dry weather has little precipitation, and polar weather is very cold. Temperate and continental are both known for being a real mixed bag, […] - [Montreal's 1971 Storm Of The Century](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/montreals-1971-storm-of-the-century/): What Was The Storm Of The Century? The storm of the century was a blizzard that happened in March 1971 that hit Eastern Canada, with Montreal being hit particularly hard. It was in Quebec where the blizzard was given the name “the storm of the Century”, and it has also been named “inferno of snow.”  Montreal reporter Rick Leckner  once said, “We’ve had lots of storms that I have reported on through the years, but ‘71 was the be-all-end-all, no question in terms of snowfall.”   Snowfall was not the only thing about the storm that was memorable for anyone. The […] - [Driving In Fog And Smog](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/driving-in-fog-and-smog/): What Is Fog? Fog is a natural phenomenon where large amounts of water droplets float very low in the air, effectively forming a cloud at ground level. Due to the high amount of moisture in the air that often co-occurs with fog, it is commonly accompanied by rain. However, fog does not cause rain, and rain does not cause fog. The reason they so commonly happen together is because they are both caused by the same thing: plenty of water in the air. Rain happens when the water falls from the sky, and fog occurs when water droplets near the […] - [A Year Of Weather In Halifax](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-halifax/): What Is The Climate Like In Halifax According to the Koppen Climate classification, Halifax is considered a Dfb climate, meaning that it is considered continental (D), not having a dry season (f), and having a warm summer (b). A continental climate (D) is one where there is at least one month where the temperature averages at least 10 C (50 F), and at least one month averaging an average temperature of 0 C (32 F) or less. This type of climate is found exclusively in the northern hemisphere, and it is noticeable for being able to hit many extremes in […] - [The Easy Guide To The Koppen Climate Classification](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/the-easy-guide-to-the-koppen-climate-classification/): What Is The Koppen Climate Classification? The Koppen Climate Classification is a system used to divide every place on land in the world into one of five categories of climate based on what an average year is like in a certain area. Each category is represented with a letter. However, each of these categories has subcategories, meaning that places will have two, and often even three letters, in their Koppen Climate Classification. History Of The Koppen Climate Classification The Koppen Climate classification was created by meteorologist, climatologist and botanist Wladimir Koppen in 1884. While his climatology and meteorology knowledge played […] - [Rainiest Cities In Canada](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/rainiest-cities-in-canada/): How Rainy is Canada? Canada is large enough that this isn’t answerable with a simple response. The amount of rain that Canada gets varies a lot. Warm places that border the ocean, like BC in the west, and the Atlantic provinces in the east, contain the rainiest cities in Canada. Meanwhile, the prairies and territories have very little by comparison. However, Canada is not entirely a land of extremes, as places such as Quebec and Ontario will often feature a more middling amount of rain. If you would like to know more about temperatures around the country, you can also […] - [The Science Of Sharknado: Can A Tornado Lift A Shark?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/the-science-of-sharknado-can-a-tornado-lift-a-shark/): What Is Sharknado? Sharknado is a satirical horror science fiction film released in 2013 by Syfy. It was directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, written by Thunder Levin, and stars Tara Reid, Ian Ziering, and John Heard among others. It is the first of six movies released in a series, with the final film, The Last Sharknado, Its About Time, being released in 2018. The first film, which is the topic of this post, is known for having several tornadoes that pick sharks up out of the water and dump them into Los Angeles. This article will dive into the possibilities […] - [A Year Of Weather In Winnipeg](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-winnipeg/): What is Winnipeg’s Climate Like? Winnipeg is classified as a humid continental warm summer climate, according to the Koppen Climate classification. This classification is sometimes shortened to Dfb. The D in Dfb refers to the fact that the city has what is known as a continental climate. Continental climates only happen in the northern hemisphere, between 40- and 60 degrees latitude, and are generally inward geographically, some distance from the ocean. Most places with a continental climate are located in Europe, Asia and North America. They are usually cooler than temperate climates, while also being warmer than polar climates. By […] - [Edmonton's Black Friday Tornado of 1987](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/edmontons-black-friday-tornado-of-1987/): What was the Black Friday Tornado? The Black Friday tornado, also known as the Edmonton Tornado, is the most memorable twister within the outbreak of eight that dropped in a single day in Alberta in 1987 in a storm that also spawned tennis ball-sized hail, with some witnesses saying that there were hailstones about 10 cm across. It was a very powerful F4 tornado, making it by far the most powerful out of the eight. In addition to hitting Edmonton, it also hit the municipality of Strathcona County, located just east of Edmonton.  It is the second most powerful tornado […] - [Sunniest Cities In Canada By Province](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/sunniest-cities-in-canada-by-province/): What Is The Sunniest Place In Canada? The sunniest place in Canada is the prairies, with southern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta being particularly prone to getting lots of warm sun. However, the other cities within these provinces, as well as most of Manitoba are all among the sunniest cities in Canada. Places closer to the ocean on both sides of the country, tend to experience less sunlight than others. This means that cities such as Prince Rupert, St Johns, Charlottetown, and Abbottsford are some of the least sunny places in the country. If you want to book a vacation and […] - [A Year Of Weather In Hamilton](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/a-year-of-weather-in-hamilton/): What Is Hamilton’s Climate Generally Like? Hamilton is classified as a humid continental hot summer climate, or Dfa climate, according to the Koppen Climate classification. The D in Dfa refers to continental climate, which is between temperate and Polar. The definition of continental climate means that there is at least one month where temperatures average below 0 C (32 F), and at least one month averaging above 10 C (50 F). Continental climates have a large distinction between their four seasons in that winters are cold and snowy, with summers being notably warmer than other seasons. It is also the […] - [Celsius And Fahrenheit](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/celsius-and-fahrenheit/): How To Convert Between Celsius And Fahrenheit One of the things that separates Canada from the rest of the world is that we use both Celsius and Fahrenheit. While this often makes us familiar with both scales, it can confuse people. Generally, we are more familiar with Celsius, having used it more frequently with weather. However, when cooking, talking with American friends and family, or watching movies and other media made in the States, we use Fahrenheit. Also, many places, this blog included, use both measurements just to be safe. This can make it advantageous to be able to transfer […] - [Hurricane Hazel And Its Impact On Toronto](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/hurricane-hazel-and-its-impact-on-toronto/): What Was Hurricane Hazel? Hurricane Hazel was a hurricane that caused catastrophic damage to the Caribbean, America, and Canada in the 1950s. It was the deadliest overall storm in North America in the 1950s and one of eight Atlantic hurricanes that was powerful enough to have its name retired within that decade. Each of these eight names had its name temporarily retired until 1969, at which time each of them was permanently retired. Hurricane Hazel is known for being one of the few hurricanes that hit Ontario, still at hurricane strength after ripping through America. This is very unusual, as […] - [Hypothermia Symptoms, Prevention And Treatment](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/hypothermia-symptoms-prevention-and-treatment/): What Is Hypothermia? Hyperthermia is the condition of having a body temperature below 35 C (95 F), which is 2 C (3.6 F) lower than the normal body temperature of 37 C (98.6 F). An overly simple way of looking at hypothermia is that it is the opposite of a fever, however, the causes are different. A fever is often caused by the body’s immune system voluntarily increasing the heat due to an infection. Hypothermia, on the other hand, is caused by the body being unable to keep itself warm. However, just like a fever, hypothermia can be very dangerous, […] - [Coldest Cities In Canada](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/coldest-cities-in-canada/): How Cold Is Canada? Canada has a reputation as one of the coldest countries in the world. Similar to countries like Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Greenland, Iceland and other northern countries, Canada can get quite cold. While the northern part of our country is quite chilly, even colder than many of the other countries mentioned above, the southern parts of the country can be quite warm as well. The immense size of the country puts it in a unique position, meaning that many areas of the country are much warmer or colder than others. But what are the coldest cities […] - [How Extreme Grey Cup Weather Can Impact The Game](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-extreme-grey-cup-weather-can-impact-the-game/): Introduction The Grey Cup is one of the largest and proudest Canadian traditions. Having been around since 1909, it is both the trophy given to the winner of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the game that decides who wins. Over 100 editions of the game have been played, all of them in Canada in the fall, and many of them in outdoor stadiums, fully exposed to the elements. This means that the weather will often be a major factor in the game, and with the game scheduled years in advance, there have been a large number of times when […] - [Hurricane Dorian And It’s Impact On Atlantic Canada](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/hurricane-dorian-and-its-impact-on-atlantic-canada/): What Was Hurricane Dorian? Hurricane Dorian was one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes of all time. It was a category 5 storm, the most powerful classification of hurricane according to the Saffir-Simpson scale which measures wind speeds of a storm. Dorian hit several islands within the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, including the Lesser Antilles Islands and The Bahamas. It also struck America, both the mainland and Puerto Rico, and finally impacted Atlantic Canada. In Canada, Nova Scotia was especially hard hit, being blasted directly by Dorian. In addition to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, […] - [Warmest Cities In Canada](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/warmest-cities-in-canada/): How Warm Is Canada? Canada has a reputation for being a very cold country. In many movies and TV shows made by our American friends, Canada is often portrayed as a place covered entirely in snow all the time. Even the warmest cities in Canada are often seen as year-long winter-wonderlands. While a lot of this is obviously exaggeration done for the sake of comedy (and be honest, we probably get a better laugh out of it than Americans) it does add to our perception of being one of the coldest countries in the world. However, Canada is not as […] - [How Much Rain Does It Take To Cause A Baseball Rain delay?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-much-rain-does-it-take-to-cause-a-baseball-rain-delay/): What Is A Baseball Rain Delay? A baseball rain delay happens when a baseball game is postponed, with play continuing either later that day or at a later date. However, it is often unclear to fans how much rain is needed to cancel a game, or why games are cancelled in the first place. Why Does Baseball Have Rain Delays? Most of the reasons to delay a baseball game are due to the idea of rain being a safety hazard for the players and fans. Many reasons are also tied to the game becoming impractical to play in heavy rain. […] - [Hurricane Igor And Its Impact On Newfoundland](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/hurricane-igor-and-its-impact-on-newfoundland/): What Was Hurricane Igor Known For? Hurricane Igor did more than $200 million worth of damage to Newfoundland, which was at the time, more than any other storm ever to hit the province. At its peak, it was the most powerful hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, having become a category 4 storm when at its strongest. Despite never hitting the mainland United States, it hit Bermuda as a powerful storm and continued to travel north. Hurricanes usually die out when hitting more northern waters, but Hurricane Igor remained very powerful. Despite losing some strength as it ventured towards […] - [Windiest Cities In Canada](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/windiest-cities-in-canada/): Wind is one of the most important aspects of weather. On Any weather report, when you hear things like temperature, odds of precipitation and how sunny it will be, they also describe how fast the wind will be blowing, and which direction it will blow in. This is because wind can be very disruptive, especially on cold days, causing a wind chill. Wind can also be annoying to fight against when walking around. However, in warmer places, wind might prove to be a good thing, making an otherwise hot day slightly cooler and more comfortable. The windiest cities in Canada […] - [How Much Snow Is Needed For A Snow Day?](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-much-snow-is-needed-for-a-snow-day/): What Is A Snow Day? A snow day is when school is cancelled for children due to safety concerns for staff and especially for students. They often occur after a snowstorm or other large amount of snow falls in a single night. One can also occur if a large amount of snow or other severe storm is expected during the day. Even if you properly prepare for a blizzard, enough snow or ice falling in one go can make it unsafe for children to go to school. There are many potential dangers involved in sending children to school after or […] - [How To Prepare For a Blizzard](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-to-prepare-for-a-blizzard/): What Counts As A Blizzard? According to Environment Canada, a blizzard has three requirements. The first is it must have sustained wind speeds of 40km/h (25 mph) or more. The second is that these winds must blow snow around to reduce visibility to 400 metres or less. The third is these conditions must last for 4 hours or more within the same system. These storms are a staple of life in Canada, and in any other country that faces more than a little snow in the winter. As with any other storm, dangers are involved when one comes to your […] - [2007 Elie Tornado Canada’s Only F5](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/2007-elie-tornado-canadas-only-f5/): What Was The 2007 Elie Tornado? The 2007 Elie Tornado is well known for being the most powerful tornado to ever hit Canada. It was the only F5 tornado to ever occur in all of Canada and was also the most powerful tornado in the world in 2007. At its fastest, it had wind speeds well more than any other twister that year, coming in at 90 km/h faster than the next highest wind speed in 2007.  It is also known for being the final F5 tornado ever, soon after the tornado, there was a change from the Fujita scale […] - [How To Prevent And Treat Frostbite](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/how-to-prevent-and-treat-frostbite/): What Is Frostbite? Frostbite is one of the most common things you get warned about during the Canadian winter. Odds are your parents or other guardians told you to put on your mittens or gloves to prevent frostbite. However, it was likely very rarely explained what frostbite is, or how to prevent the condition. Frostbite is what happens to body tissues when they get too cold. It starts damaging the skin, and when it gets more extreme, it can begin to damage other tissues. The most commonly impacted areas include the hands and feet (usually affecting the fingers and toes […] ## Pages - [Useful Tools And Fun Games](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/useful-tools-and-fun-games/): Below is a list of cool tools and fun games. Celsius to Fahrenheit Calculator Fahrenheit To Celsius Calculator - [Celsius To Fahrenheit Calculator](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/celsius-to-fahrenheit-calculator/):  Below is a calculator to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit. We also have a scale that converts Fahrenheit to Celsius.                    Celsius to Fahrenheit Calculator         Celsius to Fahrenheit Calculator     Enter Celsius:             - [Fahrenheit To Celsius Calculator](https://canadianweatherguide.ca/fahrenheit-to-celsius-calculator/): Below is a calculator that lets you convert Fahrenheit To Celsius. 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