‘Ottawa’ Summer Arrives in a Blaze of Heat
The first day of summer was expected to arrive Monday in a blaze of heat, Environment Canada says.
Leading up to the official first day of summer, heat warnings were issued in Ottawa on Saturday and Sunday for what the weather agency called “the most significant heat episode of the year.” Monday was expected to be even more humid, Environment Canada said.
“Mother Nature is delivering weather to match the calendar,” it said in the heat warning issued Sunday.
Environment Canada warned that the building heat over the weekend was expected to peak on Sunday and Monday with temperatures expected to hit the low to mid 30s.
The weather agency wrote in the warning that the intense heat poses a health risk to people who aren’t used to the high temperatures.
Everyone, especially the elderly, infants, young children, and people with chronic illnesses, should drink plenty of water before they feel thirsty, keep cool by dressing for the weather, and spend a few hours each day in a cool place, the weather agency said.
Ottawa residents welcomed the opening of four beaches in the city and the various festivals held over the weekend.
“It’s probably the best opening weekend weather we could ask for,” said Greggory Clark, an Ottawa Fringe Festival spokesman.
Even though Ottawa was hit with sweltering heat, Steve Knott, a severe weather meteorologist, said the city wasn’t expected to reach record highs.
The record for June 19 was set in 1919 at 35.6 wasn’t beat by Sunday’s 33. Monday was also expected to reach a high of 33, which is lower than the 1923 record of 35.
The temperature overnight Sunday night was expected to fall to the low 20s, Knott said.
A bit of relief from the intense heat was expected later on Monday when a cold front moves in from southwestern Ontario, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms and cooler temperatures at night.
“It’s possible there could be some severe thunderstorms late afternoon, early evening,” Knott said.
Once the cold front passes through, Ottawa will be left with an expected high of 23 on Tuesday.
And the rest of the week is expected to be beautiful.
The forecast for Wednesday is a high of 24 and Thursday and Friday are expected to reach 27 degrees.
“I imagine that’s fairly nice for many people,” Knott said.
With files from Evelyn Harford