La Nina Impacts on Industry Sectors in Winter 2024–2025

Cooler Temperatures

Using the SST 2m temperature graph, we can observe the emergence of cooler Sea Surface Temperatures in the equatorial Pacific during the December, January, and February period, which is a key indicator of La Nina. This cooling effect typically contributes to colder conditions along the Northwest Coast of North America, including British Columbia. 

Increased Snow Fall

Using the precipitation graph, we can see the anticipated increase in precipitation during the December, January, and February period, which is typical of La Nina’s impact, particularly in regions like British Columbia and Northwestern United States.

These insights help predict the cooler temperatures and increased snow associated with La Niña, which could lead to significant winter impacts in British Columbia. 

BC’s Transportation Corridors at Risk

The map highlights key transportation corridors with elevated avalanche risks, illustrating how La Nina impacts increase these hazards. During La Nina years, these routes face a higher likelihood of closures, directly affecting the movement of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of goods daily across the province.

Port of Vancouver alone handles over $240 billion in goods each year, Orton, T. (2021, November 22). making it a critical hub for trade and transportation in Canada. 

Figure from ISSW Paper 

La Nina Impacts for Railways

Railways operating in Canada are especially vulnerable to the effects of winter weather, with cold temperatures, snow, and ice posing significant operational challenges. La Niña winters are expected to bring colder-than-average temperatures and heavier snowfall across key regions, amplifying these difficulties. Mountainous regions, already prone to heavy snowfalls and steep grades, will face even more severe conditions, potentially further disrupting the movement of goods and impacting Canada’s GDP.

Industry's Must Be Prepared for Winter Closures

As per WorkSafeBC guidelines, if a workplace is at risk of avalanches, employers are required to conduct a comprehensive avalanche risk assessment before commencing any work. With the arrival of La Niña, bringing heavier snowfall and colder temperatures, avalanche hazards are expected to increase, leading to potential extended closures. Proactive avalanche risk mitigation is essential to maintaining safe operations and minimizing costly disruptions during winter months.

In Canada projects affected by avalanche hazard should seek out a risk assessment and operate under and avalanche safety plan.

Historic Canadian Avalanche Disasters

Historical accidents highlight the devastating effects of avalanches in British Columbia. Noteworthy examples include the railway accident on Rogers Pass on March 4, 1910, where 58 railway workers were killed, the Granduc Mine accident on February 18, 1965, which claimed 26 lives, and the North Route Café accident on Highway 16 west of Terrace on January 22, 1974, where seven stranded motorists were killed.

Source: DRR Pathways Report.

Historic United States Avalanche Disasters

In 1910, the Northwestern United States, including Washington State, experienced a particularly severe winter. This harsh winter culminated in one of the deadliest avalanche disasters in U.S. history, known as the Wellington Avalanche. On March 1, 1910, near the town of Wellington, Washington, an avalanche swept two Great Northern Railway trains off the tracks, killing 96 people. This tragic event remains one of the largest avalanche disasters in U.S. history.

La Nina Impacts on Avalanche Disasters

From the previously mentioned avalanche disasters 1910 and 1974 were both La Nina years.

All these accidents occurred during major winter storms that triggered widespread avalanche activity. The destructive force of dry slab avalanches, which can travel quickly and with immense force, caused significant property damage and tragically took the lives of individuals who were exposed, often unknowingly, to these hazards.

Although climate is not the direct cause of avalanche formation and size, larger snow years tend to produce more frequent avalanches, some of which can be large and destructive.