A strong El Niño is taking shape, and CTV News reports it could rank among the most powerful on record. In a report published Thursday, the outlet examined what the developing pattern might mean for British Columbia's coming winter.
El Niño is a period of unusual warming in the equatorial Pacific that can shift weather patterns worldwide. According to CTV News, this one is developing into one of the strongest such events recorded.
Coverage of the pattern has extended well beyond Canada. The Guardian reported on how Asian countries are preparing for what it described as a "supersized" El Niño, while Al Jazeera said the event has reached "super" status and looked at where it may bring rain, drought and heat. The Weather Network also reported that scientists have confirmed a "super" El Niño is underway. CityNews Ottawa, meanwhile, considered what a strong warming period could mean for the Rideau Canal.
For British Columbia, CTV News framed the winter outlook as an open question rather than a settled forecast. The network's headline asked what the developing El Niño could mean for the province this winter, without stating a projected outcome in the material available.
What to watch next: how forecasts for B.C.'s winter evolve as the El Niño strengthens, and whether conditions in the province follow the patterns seen in past strong events.