Climate Change

An increase in the frequency and duration of extreme temperature events such as heat, often accompanied by smog, and extreme cold events pose health and safety risks to town staff and residents. It is important to be aware of appropriate actions and safety measures to take during extreme heat events or on days of poor air quality. The Halton region Health Department issues all heat, smog and cold related warnings to area municipalities who in turn offer relief programs. For more information on how to protect human health in light of temperature extreme and poor air quality visit the Halton Region website.

Heavy precipitation can have devastating effects on our natural and built environments, health and safety as well as recreation and tourism. Observation of changing weather patterns and data projections indicate that more precipitation will fall in shorter periods of time causing personal safety risks, environmental impacts and property damage.

For information on how to prepare for heavy rain and the possibility of flooding visit the town’s webpages on the Town of Oakville's Stormwater Management and Emergency Preparedness or the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction’ s (ICLR) YouTube channel, and Halton Regions Basement Flooding website.

In the past an average of approximately 12 tornadoes were reported in Ontario per year. In 2013, 22 tornadoes were reported in Ontario. Environment Canada accounts for this increase in part due to population growth and urban sprawl – there are more people in more places to report such occurrences. But there is also scientific evidence that states that rising air and water temperatures will contribute to more tornado activity in areas not previously prone to this type of activity.

For information on how you can build your resiliency visit the town’s Emergency Preparedness pages on high wind and tornadoes.

The impacts of an increase in annual temperatures and precipitation are easier to prepare for and adapt to since the change is gradual. Although it may be easier to adapt to these slight increases over time this does not mean that mitigation efforts related to energy and fuel conservation can be stopped, in fact they need to become more aggressive.

An increase in annual average temperatures refers to both summer and winter temperatures. The expected impacts of more highly variable temperatures include:

• Northerly migration of invasive species (pdf) Forest stands hit with extreme weather being more susceptible to pests and disease such as Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Long Horned Beetle
• Changing migration patterns and increase activity of disease vectors (pdf): West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease
• Longer, warmer and more variable growing season (pdf): Resulting in more droughts, heat, more variable crop types and yields
• Variable winter climate and precipitation patterns (pdf): Increaseed occurences of freezing rain, sleet, freeze/thaw cycles, spring melt

A reminder from Environment Canada states, ‘When thunder roars, go indoors! – When you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning.’ For information on how to prepare for increased lightning activity visit the towns Emergency Preparedness page.