Warmth hangs on through fall—but winter's closing in
Mild temperatures and sunny skies have made for an enjoyable fall season, but colder weather is on its way.
Halfway through the fall, it's reasonable to say that Canada has had a pretty excellent run.
After a September that was well above average in almost every region of the country, most Canadians have been enjoying what feels like an extra stretch of summer.
However, October is beginning to reveal more about the upcoming season.
While the coast has begun to chill and return to normalcy, the country's north and interior are still retaining that lingering warmth—the kind that makes you wonder if you should put on your winter tires yet.
RELATED: How the weather could influence your music taste
Sunshine, storms and shifting daylight
The warmth hasn't come by itself. Much of Canada has received substantial amounts of sunshine, particularly in the western and Atlantic areas, which have remained extremely dry.
In the Great Lakes and eastern Prairies, a few noteworthy storms have maintained conditions elevated.
This is the time of year when temperatures normally drop the most, which is not surprising considering the fast dwindling daylight hours.
Vancouver, for example, has lost over an hour of sunlight in the last month. With the sun setting, even the strongest warm anomalies will struggle to reach 20 degrees again.
DON'T MISS: 10 surprising health benefits of pumpkins
Ocean heat and the road to winter
The Pacific is playing an important role in this mild spell.
Abnormally warm seas in the North Pacific are causing an active West Coast weather pattern, which has kept much of the cold at bay.
Meanwhile, the central sections of the country continue to be slightly warmer than typical, providing a brief respite before the inevitable shift. Because, yeah, that change is coming.
Looking ahead to November and December, forecasters predict a swift shift to winter weather. The sunshine has been great, but get your parka ready—the real Canadian weather show is about to begin.