Latest news with #CrawfordLuke
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
New Brunswick heat wave breaks long-standing records
Sweltering temperatures across New Brunswick on Monday shattered heat records, including one dating back nearly 150 years, and more records are expected to be set Tuesday, as much of the province remains under a heat warning, according to a meteorologist. The Miramichi area, where crews are battling a wildfire now into its sixth day, was the hottest spot in the province at 37.6 C, said Crawford Luke of Environment Canada. The previous record for that northern area on Aug. 11 was 36.7 C in 1876, he said. The Bathurst, Doaktown and Kouchibouguac areas also reached record-highs above 37 C, with the Moncton and St. Stephen areas close behind at about 36 C, and the Charlo and Fredericton areas both around 35 C. "Basically, we set a record pretty much across the entire province with the exception of the south shore, so Saint John and kind of along the Bay of Fundy and then, as well … Woodstock," Luke said WATCH | Construction workers battle heat wave: "It's definitely not something we want to be messing around with. It's definitely something to take seriously." Luke recommends people avoid being out during the hottest afternoon hours, if possible. If they have to be out, they should stay hydrated, avoid overexertion and find ways to stay cool, such as swimming, he said. Drinks up to 6 litres of water a day Larry Parent, who was part of road crew working in Saint John Tuesday, said he gets faint spells in the heat and tries to stay hydrated as much as possible. "I drink Gatorade all day long, but four litres every day of water, sometimes six," he said. They're in the sun "dusk til dawn, pretty much," and also have to deal with the scorching asphalt, Parent said. "It's about 190 F. So … when I'm on my roller, I feel it right all the way through. "You learn to bring extra shirts because you go through them pretty quick." 'It sucks the energy right out of you' Co-worker Daniel Maher, who was handling the compacter, said, "it can be brutal" working through a heat wave like this. "Like it sucks the energy right out of you." They take "micro-breaks" of about 10 minutes when they can, and they try to find some shade, he said. "We sort of pair off, kind of thing. I'll shovel for a bit and then go sit, get some [air conditioning] and then somebody else will take over and whatnot." They have a buddy system and watch out for each other, Maher said. "If it gets way too hot, they usually, they'll shut it down. If it's like getting close to 35 [C] into the 40s, they'll shut 'er down because you don't want to see guys passing out in the middle of the road." Earlier start to beat the heat Meeda Berg has been a landscaper in the Fredericton area for about five years but said this summer feels like the hottest one yet. "We have to wear masks and big headphones when we're cutting the stone, and that can be pretty warm. … The boots get pretty hot, too," she said. They normally put in about nine hours a day but have cut their days short twice this week to help manage the heat, Berg said. "This job that we're doing right now, we're under a deck, so that's nice. It's been a little more shady than usual." On Wednesday, they plan to start at 6 a.m., a couple of hours earlier than usual. "I think it'll make a bit of a difference." Some relief possible Thursday According to the forecast, it's going to remain hot and dry across New Brunswick into Wednesday, Luke said. "We might get some rain Thursday, but it may not necessarily be a ton of rain, and it may not necessarily be a widespread rain," he said. "And this is, you know, probably not good news because much of the province hasn't even seen a drop of rain so far this month. And we're already at the 12th."
CBC
09-08-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Starting Saturday, Hamilton will face its 6th heat warning of the summer
Social Sharing Environment Canada has issued Hamilton's sixth heat warning of the summer, with temperatures expected to reach 33 C by Sunday. There were four, all of last year. According to Environment Canada meteorologist Crawford Luke, the city is experiencing significantly warmer conditions this season — July averaged 22.4°C, compared to the historical average of 20.9°C, and June came in at 19.7°C, about 1.2 degrees higher than normal. "There's still a lot of summer left," said Luke, adding that Hamilton could see another one or two heat warnings before the season ends. The multi-day heat event begins Saturday, with daytime highs above 30 C and overnight lows near 23 C, offering little relief from the heat. The humidex values are expected to range between 35 and 40, according to Environment Canada. "Slightly cooler temperatures are expected by the middle of next week, bringing an end to this heat event," said the media release from Environment Canada. Starting midweek, there is also a slight chance of showers. The warning also mentioned that heat stroke can include symptoms of red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness." If you think a loved one has heat stroke, "While you wait for medical attention, try to cool the person by moving them to a cool place, removing extra clothing, applying cold water or ice packs around the body," and make sure to stay hydrated, even before you feel thirsty. "Close blinds, or shades and open windows if outside is cooler than inside," said Environment Canada adding that turning on air conditioning, using a fan, or moving to a cooler area of your living space. "If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library or shaded park."
CBC
08-08-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Heat alert issued as hot and dry conditions expected in Waterloo region, Guelph and area this weekend
Social Sharing It's going to be a hot, humid and dry weekend in Waterloo region, Guelph, Wellington County and area. Temperatures are expected to be at 30 C or higher all weekend and overnight temperatures will bring little relief. On top of that, there's not much rain in the forecast. Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for a "multi-day heat event" for southern Ontario beginning Saturday with hot conditions potentially lasting until Tuesday. Meteorologist Crawford Luke told CBC News humidity levels are expected to be slightly less severe this weekend compared with previous heat waves this summer, making it feel like high 30s, potentially low 40s. If possible, he said people who plan to be outside a lot over the next few days — such as those taking in Kitchener Blues Festival or other local events — should take frequent breaks, drink more water and try to periodically get under the shade or go indoors. "Take it easy, listen to your body and don't overdo it," Luke said. The forecast as of Friday afternoon: Friday: Cloudy with a high of 29 C, humidex of 34. There's a 30 per cent chance of showers in the early evening and a risk of a thunderstorm. The overnight low will be 19 C. Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud. High of 32 C, humidex of 40. Overnight low of 17 C. Sunday: Sunny, high of 32 C, overnight low of 17 C. Monday: Sunny, high of 32 C, overnight low of 18 C. "Slightly cooler temperatures are expected by the middle of next week, bringing an end to this heat event," the heat warning says. Burn ban in parts of Waterloo region The dry conditions in Waterloo region are also expected to continue and that has prompted a burn ban to be put in place in the townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. The burn ban went into effect on Thursday and it means any current fire permits are suspended until further notice and no new fire permits will be issued. This will also impact fires at campgrounds. "The ban prohibits all fires except those set for the sole purpose of cooking food in a contained fire pit. Cooking fires should be attended constantly and extinguished completely after use," the townships said in a joint statement. Alexandra Cournoyer, a weather spokesperson for Environment and Climate Change Canada, says Waterloo region has seen about 25 to 50 mm less rain in the past month than what it should be normally for this time of year. The past three weeks there has been very little rain locally, she said. This weekend, "mainly what we're going to get is a mix of sun and clouds. So there's no huge amount of precipitation that is forecasted, which is a little unfortunate because it's not going to help with this rainfall deficit," she said. She said there could be pop-up showers or thunderstorms because of the heat, but "it's not going to be a huge amount of precipitation and it's really localized." "The effect that it can have on the dryness could be really small," she said. Where to cool down Cooling spaces are available in Waterloo region and includes city hall locations, township offices, library branches as well as shopping malls. Also listed as cooling centres are: Cambridge: City hall, all Cambridge Public Library locations, WG Johnson Centre, Region of Waterloo Public Health and Social Services building at 150 Main St. Kitchener: Activia Sportsplex, Breithaupt Centre, Bridgeport Community Centre, Centreville Chicopee Community Centre, Chandler Mowat Community Centre, Country Hills Community Centre, Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre, Country Hills Library at 1500 Block Line Rd. and Community Healthcaring K-W at 44 Francis St. S., Region of Waterloo administration building at 150 Frederick St., Region of Waterloo Public Health and Social Services building on Weber Street E. Waterloo: RIM Park, Albert McCormick Community Centre, Moses Springer Community Centre, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Centre, Region of Waterloo's Public Health and Social Services at 99 Regina St. S., and Waterloo Public Library branches. North Dumfries: Ayr branch of the Region of Waterloo Public Library, North Dumfries Community Complex. Wellesley: Linwood, St. Clements and Wellesley branches of the Region of Waterloo Public Library. Wilmot: Baden, New Dundee and New Hamburg branches of the Region of Waterloo Public Library and the Wilmot Recreation Complex. Woolwich: Bloomingdale, Breslau, Elmira, and St. Jacobs branches of the Region of Waterloo Public Library, the Breslau Community Centre and the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira. Guelph: City hall, West End Community Centre, Victoria Road Recreation Centre, Evergreen Seniors Community Centre, all branches of the Guelph Public Library. These spaces are open as cooling centres during regular business hours. People who are exposed to extreme heat may feel: Dizziness or fainting. Nausea or vomiting. Headache. Rapid breathing and heartbeat. Extreme thirst. Decreased urination. Region of Waterloo Public Health recommends people drink plenty of liquids, especially water, and go in the shade to get out of the sun. If someone is experiencing heat stroke, that's a medical emergency and 911 should be called. The person should be moved to a cool place, fan them and apply cold water to large areas of skin or clothing. Don't leave people or pets in vehicles Temperatures inside a vehicle can quickly become hotter than the temperature outside and cracking a window does not help, police say in reminding people not to leave anyone in a vehicle. "If you see an animal in a hot car in distress and are concerned the animal's life is in danger, call 911 immediately, as this is an emergency. Do not attempt to enter a vehicle in these situations," the Waterloo Regional Police Service has said during previous heat waves this summer.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
High temperatures expected across Southern Ontario this weekend: meteorologist
Environment Canada is expected to issue a heat warning for southern Ontario, with hot conditions potentially lasting until Tuesday, a meteorologist with Environment Canada told CBC Toronto. Daytime temperatures of over 30 C are expected throughout southern Ontario, particularly along the Highway 401 corridor between Windsor and Ottawa, Crawford Luke said. The hottest days are expected to be Sunday and Monday, reaching about 33 C. Humidity levels are expected to be slightly less severe this weekend compared with previous heat waves this summer, making it feel like high 30s, potentially low 40s, he said. Nighttime lows of around 20 C will provide little relief, particularly in big cities like Toronto due to the "urban heat island effect," Luke said. Hot temperatures are expected to continue throughout the month, though he said next week could cool off slightly. "It's entirely possible that we get … another heat warning or heat wave later in August or even into September," Luke said. Advice to help beat the heat Environment Canada is advising people to limit time outside during the hottest hours of the day, between noon and 7 p.m. and to drink water often, Luke said. If possible, he said outdoor workers should try to take more frequent breaks, drink more water and try to periodically get under the shade or go indoors. "Take it easy, listen to your body and don't overdo it," Luke said. People are advised to watch for symptoms of heat stroke. Symptoms can include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness levels.
CTV News
07-08-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
‘There was debris spinning': Eyewitness shares close encounter with funnel cloud in Manitoba
It was an experience unlike any other for Brian Penner. On his way home from work, he got caught in the violent storm that hit parts of southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg, Wednesday evening. 'It was very cool,' he said. 'It kind of happened out of nowhere.' There were several reports of funnel clouds and golf-ball sized hail from witnesses who posted photos and video online. Penner was one of them. He is an amateur storm chaser who loves capturing violent weather activity. He says this storm was too good to pass up. 'This storm that was passing overtop was spinning pretty good and I was like, 'Hey, it's an opportunity for my storm chase on my way home,'' he said. 'You don't get this opportunity too often.' Weather officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada have not confirmed whether this supercell produced any tornadoes. An investigation into this storm is ongoing. Penner, however, believes he saw one. 'When it crossed the road in front of me, between Dugald and Anola, probably a mile ahead of me, there was debris spinning as it crossed the road,' he said. 'Even though you never saw the funnel touch the ground, obviously there was some circulation or something on the ground from it.' Tornado warnings were issued in several municipalities Wednesday, including the RM's of St. Andrews, East St. Paul, and Springfield. Meteorologist Crawford Luke says the severity of this storm was triggered by hot weather and a very humid air mass. 'When the storms finally did fire off, they had all of this fuel that really went for it,' he said Wednesday morning. 'We also had a bit of wind shear in the area yesterday. We had strong winds aloft with the jet stream.' Luke says events like these are not new to southern Manitoba. 'I wouldn't describe it as rare in the sense that it is specific to Winnipeg,' he says. 'It's part of our usually summertime weather.' Man. tornado confirmed: Northern Tornadoes Project Storm chaser Cory Penner captured video of what appeared to be a tornado in southwestern Manitoba on Tuesday. He was in Saskatchewan following a storm that he was hoping would produce a tornado. When he got back to Manitoba, he found another storm system and was able to capture this tornado from a distance. 'First we saw a wispy little tornado,' he said. 'Then I saw another wispy tornado come down, very brief. And then we stopped, set up the real camera, and then that's where we got that nice thick tornado, which only lasted a couple seconds. And then it was done.' It's been a fairly quiet year with just 36 confirmed tornadoes. This is way down from 2024, which had 129, the second highest number on record in Canada. Saskatchewan, compared to other provinces, has had its fair share of tornadoes, with 17 confirmed so far this summer, including a whopping eight in one day in June. As for the rest of the country, John Hanesiak, a professor of environment and geography at the University of Manitoba, says there are a number of factors that are leading to fewer tornadoes this year. 'We haven't seen the four big ingredients that we need on any particular day that sort of come together as often as we normally do,' he said. David Sills, the director of the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University in London, Ont., says active wildfires could also be playing a role in the lowered activity. 'The more smoke we have, the less energy we have for thunderstorms,' he said. 'It's been pretty quiet and in years that we have had more fires; we have noticed this pattern where the number of thunderstorms and the number of tornadoes decreases.' As for Penner, he is happy he was able to capture an intense weather event. 'I was in the right place at the right time,' he said. 'The chances of that happening are so miniscule.' 'It was very neat. When nobody gets hurt, and you get to see it go through a field, then that's exciting for everybody.'
