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Canada's Wildest Year: Fires, Droughts, and Heatwaves Hit Hard
19 Dec
Summary
- Canada endured its second-worst wildfire season, burning over 8.9 million hectares.
- Drought conditions affected 85% of Canada, impacting agriculture significantly.
- Record-breaking heatwaves scorched parts of Western Canada in late summer.
The year 2025 presented Canada with a cascade of severe weather events, detailed in Environment and Climate Change Canada's annual list. The nation grappled with its second-most destructive wildfire season on record, witnessing over 8.9 million hectares consumed by flames. This environmental crisis disproportionately affected First Nation communities, with nearly three out of five evacuees originating from these areas, particularly in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Compounding the wildfire crisis was a pervasive drought that gripped the country. By September's end, 85% of Canada faced abnormally dry conditions, with about 76% of its agricultural land under drought. This prolonged dry spell, particularly severe in British Columbia where it stretched back to 2021, also impacted Eastern Canada, leading to low water levels on the St. Lawrence River.
As summer waned, Western Canada faced a dramatic shift with intense heatwaves. From late August to early September, British Columbia recorded over 200 daily maximum temperature records, with Lytton experiencing four consecutive days at or above 40 C. Ashcroft set a new provincial and national September record at 40.8 C. Additionally, coastal communities in the Northwest Territories, like Tuktoyaktuk, faced severe flooding due to powerful low-pressure systems.
