Environment and Climate Change Canada’s meteorologists worked tirelessly throughout 2024, delivering timely and accurate weather forecasts as Canadians experienced the increasing impacts of severe weather. From record-breaking heatwaves to destructive winds and unrelenting rainfall, the year’s extreme weather events caused widespread economic damage and claimed lives, underscoring the growing influence of climate change on Canada’s weather patterns.
Canada’s 10 most impactful weather stories of 2024 include a summer inferno in Jasper, hurricanes battering Canada, and atmospheric rivers wreaking havoc in British Columbia. Other notable events range from Calgary’s billion-dollar hailstorm and Southern Ontario’s flooding to Arctic communities facing unprecedented heatwaves. These events were selected based on their severity, human and economic toll, geographic extent, and prominence in the news.
Heatwaves contributed significantly to devastating wildfires in Western and Atlantic Canada, with Jasper National Park losing 16% of its forest and 30% of its town to flames. Over 12,000 residents and 20,000 visitors were displaced by wildfires, with combined damages from Canada’s costliest weather events exceeding $7 billion. In Alberta, a January deep freeze caused economic challenges, while torrential rains flooded major urban centres, including record-breaking precipitation in Montréal.
Tragically, over 40 fatalities were linked to this year’s extreme weather, emphasizing the urgent need for preparedness. Environment and Climate Change Canada continues to enhance weather forecasting and alert systems, urging Canadians to stay informed via the WeatherCAN app or weather.gc.ca. As climate change intensifies severe weather events, proactive measures are critical to safeguarding communities across the country.