El Nino is strengthening toward what forecasters expect to be one of the most significant events on record, and The Weather Network's seasonal outlook for September, October and November says Canada is likely to feel a moderating rather than a punishing effect. For farmers still combining, that means a longer autumn and a later winter.

"While many parts of the world are bracing for the impacts of a historic El Nino, Canada is not expected to feel the brunt of its effects," said Doug Gillham, senior meteorologist at The Weather Network. "In fact, El Nino could have a moderating influence on some of the weather extremes that we might otherwise experience."

The forecast still allows for several notable fall storms, but fewer of the usual October and November systems, limited Atlantic hurricane activity and a delayed arrival of sustained winter. Temperatures will swing between cool spells and warm ones, with milder conditions dominating across most of the country.

British Columbia should be warmer and drier through late September and October, especially in the interior, with coastal areas near normal and wetter later. The Prairies are expected to run above normal in temperature with occasional cold outbreaks, and precipitation near normal in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba but below normal elsewhere. Ontario and Quebec get an extended, variable autumn and a mild November; Atlantic Canada a typical transition with a late start to persistent winter.

Northern Canada is forecast warmer than normal with variable precipitation, the far north possibly wetter. Farms.com's reading of the outlook is that most Canadian farmers should get a favourable end to the growing season with normal to below-normal precipitation.

Photo: BriYYZ / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Source: Farms.com