Canada's top ten weather stories of 2002

Last year's droughts wreaked havoc in Canada, costing our economy billions of dollars. But just when we thought it couldn't get worse, it did! This year, more drought - combined at times with floods, freezing, heat, disease and pests - made 2002 even worse, surpassing drought conditions from the infamous 1930s dust bowl. Western producers feared the worst and then had to face it, as fellow Canadians shook their collective heads. Without a doubt, weather woes in the Prairies came up as this year's number one weather story.

For the rest of the country, it was a crazy year for weather. El Niño was back, Gustav came ashore and vineyards harvested ice wine twice - the latest and earliest ever. As for the seasons, it was winter that wasn't, spring felt more like winter, summer overstayed and fall went missing. 

On the good news/bad news front, the East had a hot, hazy summer and Central Canada enjoyed near-perfect weekends and holiday weather. Unfortunately, farmers and gardeners in both regions were left wanting for more of the wet stuff. This year's other top stories include a record drought on the Pacific Coast, back-to-back hurricanes, smoke from Quebec that traveled to Washington, and the weather travails of the Pope and the Queen who experienced first-hand why Canadians are obsessed with the weather.

The following top weather stories for 2002 are rated from one to ten based on the impact they had on Canada and Canadians, the extent of the area they affected and their longevity as a top news story.

Top ten weather stories for 2002

  1. Prairie Plagues
  2. Winter 2001-02 Canceled
  3. A Lazy, Hazy Summer
  4. Prairie Rain Gushers - too much too soon
  5. Icy Spring Shatters Records
  6. Sizzling Summer in the Cities
  7. "Wet" Coast Drought
  8. Four Hurricanes in Four Weeks
  9. Quebec Smoke Crosses Borders
  10. Canadian Weather Fit for A Pope and A Queen

Regional highlights

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