As Quebec winters become warmer and more unpredictable, a whole part of our northern identity is being shaken up. Skiing, skating, ice fishing, major festivals: these iconic activities depend on a fragile balance that is now being challenged by climate change. But far from heralding the end of winter, these transformations are forcing the tourism sector to reinvent itself—and to start thinking now about how to continue to promote our winters of tomorrow.
 

When the climate disrupts our winter activities

Winter activities, which are directly linked to weather conditions, are already feeling the effects of climate change. Winter sports like skiing and skating are affected by shorter and  less predictable winters.  Other iconic activities, like ice fishing, the Québec City Carnival, the Montréal en lumière festival, and Winterlude in the Outaouais, are also suffering from the repercussions of an increasingly variable season.

Cold periods that are followed quickly by a rise in temperatures above 0 °C force the cancellation of activities and make ice rinks and cross-country ski trails unusable.
Rising temperatures shorten the winter season. Ski resorts are seeing their season shortened by the lack of snow, while ice fishing starts later and ends earlier due to the ice forming late and becoming unstable more quickly.

These impacts affect the customer experience and the attractiveness of the tourism offer, complicate the planning of activities, and increase organizations’ financial risks. They now have to deal with this new climate reality while anticipating the challenges that tomorrow’s winters will pose.

What can we expect from the winters of tomorrow ?

The scientific data is unequivocal: Quebec’s winters are changing rapidly. According to the more pessimistic climate projections, average winter temperatures will increase for all of Quebec by about +3.9 °C by 2050, and then by up to +6.6 °C by 2080, compared to the reference period of 1991-2020.

This rise in temperatures will result in milder and wetter winters, as well as shorter seasons with snow cover and frozen waterways. For regions located in the southern part of the province, continuous snow cover could set in nine days later and end ten days earlier by 2041-2070.

Even though these findings are concerning, Quebec’s winters will not disappear. Cold spells and snowstorms will continue. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, annual snowfall will decrease across most of eastern North America, but major storms will continue to occur. Some regions will even experience an annual increase in snowfall during a few major storms.

Due to this climate reality, we will learn to be flexible and resilient in adapting our activities and habits to make the most of the joys of winter and be ready when the snow arrives.

Adapting to attract: Turning the winter of today and tomorrow into a strategic asset

Despite the very real challenges that climate change poses to winter activities, the Quebec winter still attracts many visitors. It boosts the economy and gives Quebec a reputation as a winter destination.

Several adaptation solutions have already been taken by tourism stakeholders to preserve attractiveness. These include:

-The creation of multi-use trails suitable for snowshoeing or fat bikes
-Ice fishing made safer by a real-time alert system via a mobile application
-The design of thaw-resistant facilities to maintain activities during festivals

Some regions are also focusing on diversifying their offerings to allow activities to take place regardless of weather conditions. They are also offering distinctive experiences such as Nordic spas and unusual accommodations to enhance the appeal of their destination.

In coping with climate change, the adaptation of the tourism sector depends on collective effort. As Laurence Coulombe, Scientific Programming Coordinator at Ouranos, points out, “Supporting tourism associations and organizations in their adaptation efforts and providing them with practical resources is key in strengthening the industry’s resilience.”

For several years, Ouranos has supported this transition and encouraged new practices to prepare for the climate of tomorrow. This work demonstrates that tourism stakeholders are able to join forces to preserve the attractiveness, safety and viability of their activities despite climate-related challenges.