As the public pools close and the summer fairs and exhibitions wind down, Canadians start to think about the inevitable.

"The definition of a Canadian is one who worries about winter before summer is even over," says David Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada.

So is there much to worry about, weather-wise, this fall? Phillips says no.

Environment Canada is fairly confident that September will roll out much like the summer, with western and far eastern regions enjoying above-normal temperatures, and Central Canada experiencing normal temperatures.

Toward the end of November, even more of the country will be warmer than normal, with the exception of the far north, where there will be a band of colder weather.

But for winter, the jury is out. Western Canadian winter conditions are determined by the temperature of the currents in the Pacific: A La Niña condition means colder waters and colder winters, while an El Niño system means a warmer winter.

Phillips says the verdict so far is "La Nada." Environment Canada just doesn't know right now which way it's going to swing this year, the CBC's Kirk Williams reports.