How Canadian Weather Can Affect Betting Trends in NHL and CFL

Overview of Canadian Weather Patterns

Different weather conditions like snow, cold, wind, and rain impact various sports in Canada in different ways. For instance, a heavy rain during a football match could make the ground slippery, which could make players lose their footing more often. The ball also skids on the glass, affecting passing accuracy and ball trajectory. Strong winds can also alter the ball’s flight by knocking it off course, making it difficult for players to predict where the ball will land.

Different regions popular with football and hockey sports events in Canada also have different climates, with all regions except for the West Coast experiencing at least several months of cold and winter seasons. In times of extreme conditions, there may be travel delays and low attendance in such regions, which may also negatively influence the players’ morale and preparation. Similarly, teams or players may be less used to playing in certain climatic conditions. For example, a football team from a warmer climate, i.e. from the West Coast, might struggle to perform better in a cold Prairie environment.

Weather’s Impact on CFL Betting Trends

As we mentioned, weather plays a huge role in CFL games betting, affecting everything from coaching strategy to player performance. When temperatures drop below freezing point while Saskatchewan Roughriders are playing against Winnipeg Blue Bombers, for example, players experience decreased muscle flexibility and reduced grip strength. This affects receivers and quarterbacks mostly, leading to slower-paced games with fewer successful passes, lots of misfires, dropped passes, and more conservative game plans. So, you should focus on live betting and place your bets based on how each team is handling the weather.

Like snow, rain also affects CFL matches, especially for teams like BC Lions who are used to playing in domed stadiums. In wet conditions, it can be hard for players to kick accurately. Some players also struggle with footing more than others. If heavy rain is expected throughout the match, for instance, it’ll lead to a simple game plan and the Totals will likely drop. So, you should adjust your Under/Over bets based on how your target team thrives on wet surfaces.

Wind is another factor you should consider in your CFL betting strategy. If CFL matches are played in stadiums like McMahon Stadium in Calgary or Mosaic Field in Regina, where wind speeds can reach 40+ km/h, it’ll affect kicking distance and passing accuracy. Teams with a solid defence and strong run game often gain an edge in such windy conditions.

Weather’s Influence on NHL Betting Trends

Even though NHL games are indoor sports (except for Winter Classic and Heritage Classic), they can also be impacted by weather conditions, which will in turn affect your betting trends. In times of heavy snowfall, for instance, there could be travel delays which could force the team to take the long way to the stadium, and affect their arrival at the arena. In return, players may not get enough time to prepare for the game, which might impact their performance. Travel-heavy schedules in winters, especially on back-to-back games, may also make players and goalies fatigued as they will have little time to rest. So, when placing your in-play bets, research the team schedule and assess the conditions of players to find an edge.

Fans’ turnout can also impact NHL games. If there’s a low turnout due to closed highways and airports after a heavy snowfall, players will most likely be less motivated due to low turnout, lowering their overall performance. This will, in turn, affect your Spread or Under/Over bets.

The rising temperatures may also affect the ice conditions in the stadiums, especially for outdoor games like Winter Classic and Heritage Classic. For indoor hockey, the entrances open and close frequently, even before the game begins, which can be very hard to maintain optimum temperatures within the arena. If the ice gets warmer or more humid, it gets softer, making players skate slower and easily lose grip and footing. Thus, bad ice will slow things down, and you can find an edge by leveraging on handicap or Totals bets.

Regional Weather Effects Across Canada

Throughout Canada, weather conditions affect CFL and NHL betting differently, and it depends on your region. In Toronto, for example, the game seasons are often dominated by lake effect snow, which is associated with heavy snowstorms and rainstorms. So, if your favourite teams are playing during such times, you should lean towards Under bets on point totals because the matches are likely to be slow-paced with fewer scoring. You might also consider wagering on teams like Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats or any other team that has a great reputation for adverse weather resilience.

If you are betting on NHL teams playing in Calgary, you ought to consider the Chinook winds that regularly hit the region. These winds can suddenly raise the temperatures, impacting both outdoor and indoor hockey games. In the case of football matches, rapid temperature swings caused by the strong winds can cause the snow to melt faster and turn the field muddy. This will slow down the games due to slippery conditions and poor footing.  You can take advantage of these conditions by wagering on home teams that are accustomed to sudden weather changes. 

For Regina’s CFL matches, you should consider home teams like the Saskatchewan Roughriders, as they are used to playing in Regina’s extreme winter weather conditions.

Even with adverse weather conditions, some stadiums have artificial turf with controlled environments, which makes them reliable and consistent even when the weather changes. So, the matches often go smoothly, and you can place bets just as you would in favourable weather conditions.

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Historical Examples & Stats

Weather has shaped some of the most memorable and renowned CFL and NHL games in history. And the 105^th Grey Cup in 2017, between the Calgary Stampeders and the Toronto Argonauts at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, stands as perhaps the most famous weather-affected match in recent CFL history. During this match, the Argonauts (the underdogs at the time) took advantage of the snow to win the game, while Calgary Stampeders players struggled with visibility and footing.

The 2003 Heritage Classic (the first NHL game to be played outdoors) is another game that shows a team can take advantage of the bad weather and win against a stronger opponent. Held in Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, Montreal Canadiens played against Edmonton Oilers in bitterly cold temperatures of -18 °C and won.

These two examples underscore the need to consider weather conditions as a significant factor when deciding on your CFL and NHL bets.

How Bettors Can Use Weather Data

Having learned the importance of analyzing weather conditions in CFL and NHL betting, the question is: how do you incorporate the weather factor in your betting strategy? We recommend signing up at the top Canadian NHL betting sites or the leading CFL betting sites that offer weather forecast tools and resources on their sites and apps. You should also use weather analysis apps and sites like Weather.com and Sports Insights to get real-time weather updates in different regions in Canada.

After confirming weather predictions from reliable sites and apps, you then adjust your Under/Over bets based on the forecasts. If the weather is likely to get worse, Under bets have better odds. You should also place live bets as the game unfolds in real time.

Finding value bets can also give you an edge. You can achieve this by avoiding knee-jerk bets and researching teams’ historical weather-related trends or how they have performed in the past under different weather conditions.

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Responsible Gambling

Whether your NHL or CFL weather betting strategy works in your favour under different weather conditions or not, you should bet responsibly. Don’t chase any losses and only bet with the money you can afford to lose. You should also stick to your budget and use responsible gambling tools like time-outs, deposit limits, self-exclusion, and reality checks, provided by the Canadian NFL betting site or CFL bookmaker you are using to manage your betting habits.