Capital Daily for Thursday, June 4

There has been widespread media concern over predictions of a 'super El Niño,' but Victoria climate experts say those fears are premature. While the United Nations issued a warning on Tuesday urging the world to prepare for an El Niño, local researchers say the situation is not yet cause for alarm.

El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate cycle, causing warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific and altering global weather patterns. These phases cycle every two to seven years.

Charles Curry, a UVic researcher and regional climate impacts lead at the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, says there is an 80% chance an El Niño will occur soon, but only a 30% chance it will be strong. He told Capital Daily that current data does not support the more alarming media predictions.

Bill Merryfield, a climate researcher with Environment Canada and UVic, notes that BC will be among the first in Canada to feel the effects, given its position on the Pacific Coast. If the El Niño is strong, BC can expect a warmer, drier winter, which could heighten existing climate-change concerns on the Island such as flood risks and low snowpacks.

The Saanich School Board (SD63) has acknowledged a rodent problem across its district, with Brentwood Elementary and North Saanich Middle School identified as particular areas of concern. Rob Lumb, SD63's director of facilities, told Capital Daily the district has noticed an increase in the rodent population.

Parents and teachers have posted social media messages expressing concern, with some staff reporting they have had to clean up rodent droppings themselves. One poster identifying as a teacher wrote that they had cleaned up messes despite WorkSafe guidelines advising against it, and others described the situation as creating unsafe environments for both teachers and children.

Lumb said control measures underway include expanded cleaning, staff education on food storage, filling holes where mice might enter, and active pest control. He noted that the number of traps found full has been declining, which he said suggests the rodent population is decreasing.