Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is predicting that Yellowknife has about a 70 per cent chance of having warmer-than-average temperatures this fall. In fact, almost all of Canada has a fairly high probability of being warmer than usual, ECCC predicts.

ECCC issued its seasonal forecasts for temperatures and precipitation for fall 2024 on Sept. 1. The months of September, October and November have a decent chance for more precipitation than usual in the NWT too. In particular, the southern parts of the territory, like Yellowknife and Hay River, have about a 40 per cent chance of seeing more precipitation than ECCC's 30-year average.

The more northern parts of the territory, such as Inuvik, are on track for normal amounts of precipitation, however. Notably, those northern areas also have greater odds off being warmer than usual this fall than the southern portions of the territory.

There is, of course, no guarantee that these predictions will come to fruition. Defined as meteorologists "skill" level when predicting the weather, the term refers to ECCC's historic ability to forecast an element. In the case of precipitation in the NWT, the agency's skill level is low. However, the skill level for predicting future temperatures in the NWT is classified as medium.

For the rest of Canada, the south has the best odds of experiencing warmer temperatures this fall, in particular Ontario and Quebec, according to ECCC. Iqaluit also has about an 80 per cent chance of having warmer temperatures than normal in autumn.