Winters Gone Wild

You step outside, and the streets of Peel Region are buried under a thick layer of snow. You are tired from the constant shoveling, the plows' struggle to keep up, and the bitter cold stings on your face. It feels like winter is hitting harder than ever, but here’s the shocking truth: this extreme snowfall isn’t just a sign that climate change isn’t real. It’s proof that it is.

Northeast Side of Brampton, Feb 18th, 2025, an Hour after Shoveling, Credit: Usma Pasha

The Problem: Why Are We Seeing So Much Snow?

Many people associate climate change with rising temperatures; however, climate change doesn’t just mean hotter summers; it also disrupts winter weather patterns. One major factor? The Polar Jet Stream.

The jet stream is a fast-moving air current that controls North America’s weather. Due to Arctic warming, the jet stream is weakening and becoming more unpredictable (MIT Climate Portal, 2023). This instability can lead to longer, harsher snowstorms in southern regions of Canada like the Region of Peel. Instead of moving along quickly, winter storms can stall, dumping huge amounts of snow over the same area. In February 2025, Peel Region experienced three significant blizzards (Lavoie, 2025) :

1. First Blizzard (February 5-7): This storm brought approximately 35 centimeters of snow over 48 hours, leading to widespread disruptions.
2. Second Blizzard (February 12-14): Accumulating about another 40 centimeters of snow, causing significant challenges for snow removal services.
3. Third Blizzard (February 18-20): The most severe of the three, this storm dumped close to an additional 50 centimeters of snow, effectively immobilizing the region.

Additionally, climate patterns like El Niño and La Niña affect winter weather in Canada by changing how air and ocean currents move around the planet, which can lead to more extreme conditions. El Niño brings warmer-than-average temperatures and milder winters, whereas La Niña leads to colder, snowier conditions. These shifts are driven by temperature changes in the Pacific Ocean, which affect the jet stream and storm patterns (University of Ottawa, 2023).

During El Niño, the jet stream tends to shift farther north, resulting in milder winters for much of Canada, including the Peel Region. In contrast, La Niña pushes the jet stream farther south, allowing colder Arctic air to dip into Canada and increasing the likelihood of heavy snowfall and extreme winter storms. With climate change intensifying these events, extreme snowfall in the Peel Region could become more frequent and unpredictable. Scientists warn that a warming planet may lead to stronger and longer-lasting El Niño and La Niña cycles, further destabilizing seasonal weather (Arctic Council, 2023).

According to research from Environment Canada, warming temperatures can also increase moisture in the air, fueling heavier snowfall when cold air moves in (Government of Canada, 2023). As the atmosphere warms, it has the capacity to hold more water vapour. When this moist air meets colder temperatures, it cools and condenses, leading to precipitation in the form of snow. The more moisture the air can carry, the heavier the snowfall can be when cold air triggers condensation. This process is why areas experiencing higher temperatures due to climate change are seeing an increase in both the intensity and frequency of heavy snowstorms (TIME Magazine, 2023).

Warming temperatures not only contribute to heavier snowfall but also lead to faster snowmelt and increased weather inconsistencies. As the atmosphere warms, it holds more moisture, resulting in heavier snowfall when this moist air meets colder temperatures. However, the same warming trends cause snow to melt more rapidly, leading to shorter snow cover periods. This rapid transition from heavy snowfall to quick melting can cause localized flooding and strain infrastructure, disrupt ecosystems, and pose challenges for communities in adapting to such variable conditions.

The Solution: Acknowledging the Role of Climate Change

We need to recognize that these extreme winters are not a fluke; they are part of a larger climate crisis. Understanding how climate change, especially the warming of the planet, fuels severe snowfall helps us advocate for climate action, better urban planning, and sustainable policies.

Climate Action Begins with You - Act Now!

‍The time to act is now. Here are ways you can make a difference:

1. Support Climate Policies: Advocate for stronger climate policies at the local and national levels to reduce carbon emissions.
2. Green Infrastructure: Push for more sustainable city planning, like tree canopies and permeable surfaces, to manage extreme weather impacts.
3. Community Awareness: Educate others about the link between climate change and extreme winters.

Climate change is reshaping our seasons—and it’s up to us to act.

Want to stay informed and make a difference? Follow the Community Climate Council today and be part of the solution.

Index

Arctic Warming: The rapid increase in Arctic temperatures, which affects global weather patterns.
‍Carbon Emissions: The release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from human activities, contributing to global warming.
‍Climate Change: Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, largely driven by human activities.
‍El Niño: A climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures, leading to milder winters in Canada.
‍Extreme Weather: Unusually severe or intense weather conditions, such as snowstorms, heat waves, and hurricanes.
‍Global Atmospheric Circulation: The movement of air around the planet that helps regulate climate and weather.
‍Green Infrastructure: Sustainable urban designs like green roofs and tree canopies that help combat climate impacts.
‍Jet Stream: A fast-moving air current in the atmosphere that influences weather patterns.
‍La Niña: A climate pattern marked by cooler-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures, causing colder, snowier winters.
‍Permeable Surfaces: Ground materials that allow water to pass through, helping reduce flooding and manage heavy snowmelt.
‍Snowstorms: Severe winter storms with heavy snowfall, strong winds, and reduced visibility.
‍Urban Planning: The design of cities to address environmental and climate challenges, such as flooding and extreme temperatures.

Source

1. Arctic Council. (2023). Shifting winds: How a wavier polar jet stream causes extreme weather events. Arctic Council.
2. Casaletto, L. (2025, February 13). Winter storm slams southern Ontario as Toronto sees 26 cm of snow. CityNews. https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/02/13/southern-ontario-snow-storm-toronto-gta-snowfall-warning/
3. Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2023). Changes in precipitation. Government of Canada. https://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_e.html
4. Global News. (2024, February). Intense snowstorms linked to climate change in Canada. https://globalnews.ca/news/9372200/intense-snowstorms-linked-to-climate-change-canada/
5. Government of Canada. (2019). Canada’s changing climate report. https://changingclimate.ca/CCCR2019/chapter/5-0/
6. Government of Canada. (2023). Historical climate data. Environment and Climate Change
7. Lavoie, J. (2025, February 17). Toronto got more snow in the last week than it did all last winter, says climatologist, but relief may be on way with 'warmer than normal' March. CP24. https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2025/02/17/toronto-got-more-snow-in-the-last-week-than-it-did-all-last-winter-says-climatologist-but-relief-may-be-on-way-with-warmer-than-normal-march/
8. Maria Santa Cheryl, (2023, March 15). Melting ice and flood risk: How ice jams can endanger Canadian communities. The Weather Network. https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/seasonal/melting-ice-and-flood-risk-how-ice-jams-can-endanger-canadian-communities
9. MIT Climate Portal. (2024, May 15). The polar jet stream and polar vortex. MIT Climate Portal. https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/polar-jet-stream-and-polar-vortex
10. TIME Magazine. (2023). Why climate change sometimes brings major winter storms. TIME.
11. University of Ottawa. (2023). From El Niño to La Niña: Impacts on weather forecasts in Canada. University of Ottawa.