Environment Canada released its summer weather outlook yesterday, showing that much of the country will see lower than normal precipitation levels and a higher likelihood of warmer temps.

A moderate to strong El Nino will develop over the Pacific by the end of the year, affecting weather patterns across North America.

Environment Canada’s Dr. Nathan Gillett says some models show that this year’s El Nino could be the strongest on record, but the true effect is typically felt with milder winter temperatures, with no significant effect on temperatures across most of Canada this summer.

However, Gillett says, Canada’s climate is changing, meaning warmer weather is becoming the norm.

“Canada’s average summer temperatures have warmed by about 1.65 degrees Celsius since 1948. Canada is warming at nearly twice the global rate, and most of this warming has been caused by human-induced climate change.”

He says because of that warming, most parts of Canada are more likely to see warm anomalies, rather than cold anomalies.