It rains quite a bit in the region, with an average rainfall of about 1300 millimeters per year (compared to 935 millimeters per year in mainland France for comparison) and a number of rain/snow days of 146 days per year → approximately it snows or it Rains a little less than half of the year.

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon also experiences 156 days of strong wind per year, particularly between October and April, and there is a risk of tropical cyclones between August and October.

The climate in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon in 2100

How will temperatures and precipitation develop?

In Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, temperatures have risen in recent decadesunder the influence of climate change, especially in winter: in the winter of 2022, the average temperature was 0.8 ° C (versus -3.4 ° C in normal times).

“ In the winter of 2021-2022 we had almost no snow, which is exceptional for Saint-Pierre and Miquelonexplains Franck Detcheverry, mayor of Miquelon-Langlade, in the documentary Miquelon, a village on borrowed time. Over the years there has been a global warming of temperatures here. This happens very, very quickly and worries us. »

“ Reports from Canada and the IPCC warn of numerous impacts of climate change in the Northeast Atlantic region: regional warming of atmospheric and oceanic temperatures, increases in extreme precipitation, decreases in snow precipitation* and the foot phenomenon. Winter ice* » specifies a document from the National Observatory on the effects of climate change.

How will the storms develop?

There is currently no forecast for an increase in storms in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by the end of the century.

The IPCC states that areas of North America, such as Atlantic Canada (which includes Saint-Pierre and Miquelon), will be at risk from sea level rise as well as violent storms and hurricanes… even the Global limit warming to +1.5°C, the goal of the Paris Agreement.

“ We’re watching that The archipelago is increasingly exposed to the influence of cyclones from a decadeadds Xénia Philippenko, geographer and researcher at BRGM. Due to rising ocean and atmospheric temperatures, these hurricanes are becoming more intense. This causes damage and increases the phenomenon of submersion*. »

Will Saint-Pierre and Miquelon be swallowed up by water?

The question of rising sea levels and its effects is already being raised in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon! The overseas territory could experience a rise in oceans of +30 centimeters by 2050 and +70 centimeters by 2090.

This rising water level raises two major problems: coastal erosion and the risk of flooding* of certain areas.