Update December 2021 - What is Ontario gonna get this year? Check out our predictions for the 2022 snowmobile season!
They say in order to know where you’re going, you have to know where you have come from. I agree with this statement; I come from Northern Ontario, a place where winter and snowmobiling are guaranteed.
However, if you live and ride anywhere south of Muskoka, you’re shaking your head and saying a true Canadian Winter with great snowmobiling is never guaranteed—at least not now, after last winter’s fiasco.
What will this winter hold for us? Let’s find out.
In last year’s winter prediction article, I warned everyone that we would be in for a wild ride; after all, we were experiencing a record-setting El Niño—stronger than the previous record set in 97-98, which resulted in ice storms causing $5 billion in damages to infrastructure in Ontario and Quebec.
I would never have expected that last winter would bring with it so many unusual weather shifts and inconsistencies. It wasn't just one part of the province, either; everyone was affected. While the South experienced a nonexistent winter, much of the North reported some of the worst ice conditions in decades, making swamps, lakes and rivers extra challenging to navigate and maintain. The snow and its depth varied widely by region, making it a challenge to find consistent conditions between communities. This was last year’s reality, yet we still rode!