A soggy June could mean mosquitoes ‘plaguing’ many Canadians, experts say

A soggy June across much of Canada has meteorologists and experts warning of a potentially intense mosquito season ahead. Persistent rain and thunderstorms have dominated early summer plans, creating ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.

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From west to east, there have certainly been some areas that have experienced higher-than-normal rainfall amounts, one in particular out west.

Meteorologist Ross Hull noted that several regions have experienced higher-than-normal rainfall. Edmonton, for instance, saw heavy downpours, with some areas receiving nearly a month's rain in just over a day. Similarly, Winnipeg has recorded over 100 millimeters of rain, exceeding its average of 90 millimeters for the month. Toronto's Pearson Airport has also registered above-average rainfall.

In Quebec, parts of Montreal's West Island and South Shore were hit by intense rain on Saturday, with amounts between 100 and 150 millimeters falling in a few hours. This deluge left thousands without power and caused some basements to flood.

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Edmonton has seen bouts of heavy rain. There were bouts of heavy rain earlier in June and then just over the weekend, some areas saw basically near a month’s worth of rain in just a day or so.

Experts also point to the impending "super El Niño" as a contributing factor to the escalated rainfall. While El Niño patterns vary, they typically lead to wetter-than-normal conditions in eastern Canada, such as southern Ontario and southwestern Quebec, and drier conditions in the west. This summer's outlook suggests continued wet weather for these eastern regions, while Alberta and Manitoba may see more dry spells.

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The Winnipeg area is also seeing more than what is normal or average for rainfall. Just looking at some of the numbers they’ve seen, or at least the airport in Winnipeg has seen over 100 millimetres of rain. That normal would be 90 millimetres.

Despite the current wet conditions delaying wildfire risks, Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasts an increase in fire risk as the summer progresses. Currently, 135 active wildfires are burning across Canada, with 11 out of control. John Soghigian, an assistant professor at the University of Calgary, stated that mosquito season typically runs from May to October, peaking in July and August, and confirmed that "rain definitely leads to more abundance of mosquitoes."

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No El Niño pattern is going to be the same, but typically that can lead to wetter-than-normal weather across eastern sections of the country; this year it’s southern Ontario, southwestern Quebec, particularly, or through Ontario and Quebec, and drier than normal and warmer than normal across the West.