Climate change made June heat wave up to 10 times more likely, scientists say – National [Video]

The above-normal temperatures in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada were made two to 10 times more likely as a result of human-caused climate change, Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists said on Tuesday.

The agency announced the results of its analysis from its new rapid extreme weather event attribution system, a tool meant to determine the degree to which climate change affects extreme climate events.

Data released on Tuesday analyzed extreme temperatures in mid-June from four sub-regions: Eastern Ontario, Southern Quebec, Northern Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Scientists are expected to release similar analysis for the heat events in Western Canada later next week.

“In all regions, the event was made much more likely as a result of human influence on the climate,” Greg Flato, senior research scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, said.

“By ‘much more likely,’ we mean that the event was at least two to 10 times more likely than it would have …