Ottawa's On Track To Hit The 'Longest Bout' Of Relentless Heat In History
If you’ve been feeling like Ottawa's weather has been too hot to handle recently, that’s because it has been! According to a leading Environment Canada climatologist, temperatures over the last week have been pretty unusual. In fact, he believes this could be Ottawa’s “longest bout” of 30 C temperatures in history.
Grab your sunglasses and your sunscreen Ottawa, because the heat is showing no signs of easing up.
Speaking to CTV Morning Live on July 9, a senior climatologist for Environment Canada explained that the recent bout of hot weather has been pretty extraordinary, even for the summer period.
"Eight days in a row and we have still three days to come, so probably the longest bout of 30 C temperatures in Ottawa in history,” David Phillips explained.
He noted that he’d searched through Ottawa weather records back in June, when there was a period of seven days at temperatures of 30 C and above. However, he was unable to find a similar period of relentless heat.
On Thursday, the temperature in the city reached 30 C or over for the eighth consecutive day, with temperatures climbing to 35 C by the afternoon. With the humidex, it will feel closer to 42 C.
If you were hoping that there might be respite on the horizon, it won’t be coming this week. Phillips is warning Ottawams to be prepared for Friday, which he says could be the hottest day of the summer.
Environment Canada is calling for highs of 35 C on Friday, with humidex making conditions feel closer to 43 C.
That said, there may be relief in the form of rainfall, which is expected throughout the weekend and into next week.
An Environment Canada heat warning has been in place for several days, as the relentless weather is refusing to budge.
If it feels pretty stifling, that’s because it is, explained Phillips. “These temperatures we’re talking about, 35 C today and tomorrow, these are shaded temperatures.”
“You go out into that sun in the ByWard Market, you can add another eight degrees to it,” he said.
While the rain might bring some welcome relief this weekend, the climatologist is urging Ottawans to be prepared for a long, sweaty summer.
“This is the sign of the summer of 2020; it’s just hot, hot, hot” he said.
Phew!
*This article's cover image is for illustrative purposes only.