Canada's Climate Largely Warm and Dry in 2001

OTTAWA, January 21 2002 - 2001 was the third warmest year and fifth driest year on record for the country as a whole. Based on preliminary data for 2001 and records extending back to 1948, the mean annual temperature for 2001 was 1.7° C above normal and 4.3% less precipitation than normal.

These observations are similar to reports from World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which recently stated that 2001 was the second warmest year on record globally. As well, the report states that nine of the ten warmest years globally have occurred since 1990. In Canada four of the ten warmest have occurred since 1990.

The Climate Trends and Variations Bulletin for Canada, released this week by Environment Canada, provides a cross-country look at temperatures and precipitation for the 2001 calendar year and compares it to national climate data, which has been available since 1948.

Highlights from the bulletin include:

• The year 2001 ranked the third warmest for the 54-year period of record, tied with 1999. The warmest year in Canada was recorded in 1998, with temperatures at 2.5 ° C above normal, and the second warmest year was 1981 at 2.0° C above normal. The coolest year was in 1972, with temperatures at 1.8° C below normal. 1992 was the last year with below normal temperatures for the country. Above normal temperatures were recorded in Canada during the last 18 seasons without interruption (from summer 1997 to autumn 2001).
  
• The warmest temperatures in Canada, relative to normal, were recorded in Northwest Territories with temperatures of about 2.4° C above normal. The west coast of British Columbia was the coolest region, but still warmer than normal (0.3° C above normal).
  
• 2001 was a very dry year in Canada. It was the fifth driest on record, with precipitation at 4.3% below normal (based on preliminary data). The wettest year was 1996, with precipitation 10.2% above normal, and 1956 was the driest year on record, with precipitation 7.3% below average.
• Regionally, Atlantic Canada, the Prairies, and the British Columbian mountains all experienced their driest year in the 54-year period. Both the Northwest and Nunavut Territories had a wetter than normal year in 2001.
  

Related documents:

• Annual 2001 Climate Trends and Variations Bulletin for Canada [information collection]