VOX • June 8, 2023
The summer often brings severe wildfires to western Canada, especially as climate change continues to dry out vegetation and heat up the atmosphere. Provinces in the east — including Quebec and Nova Scotia — are somewhat more safeguarded from fires. Air coming off the North Atlantic Ocean typically keeps the region humid and cooler, making it less likely to burn. But this spring brought the right conditions across parts of the east — namely, low humidity and rainfall, and lots of heat. “What’s unique about this year is that the forests are so dry that the fires are many times larger than they normally are,” said Matthew Hurteau, a biology professor. A large low-pressure system above Nova Scotia that’s swirling counter-clockwise has created winds that flow south from Quebec and then toward east coast cities. It will take a change in weather to clear smoke from eastern cities. Forecasters predict Canada will face dry and, in some places, warmer-than-average conditions this summer, so the recipe for wildfires could persist for months.