Climate change will cause Ottawa's seasons to shift noticeably, with shorter winters, less snow and a heightened risk of extreme weather including tornadoes, new projections show. The city and the National Capital Commission commissioned CBCL Limited to predict how the weather in the region will change, so they can start planning now to mitigate the effects. Average temperatures in Ottawa are expected to rise by 1.8 C by the 2030s, by 3.2 C by the 2050s, and by 5.3 C by the 2080s, according to the 419-page report. Winters could be four weeks shorter by the 2030s and eight weeks shorter by the 2080s, with far more freeze-thaw cycles between December and February, and fewer "deep freeze events." (CBCL Limited for National Capital Commission and City of Ottawa)The projections become less certain the further they are into the future.

Source: CBC News June 08, 2020 17:26 UTC