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CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Windsor-Essex is in for a summer of heat waves, thunderstorms and smoke. How should you prepare?
Social Sharing The official start of summer is weeks away on June 21 — but experts are already warning you to brace for a hot, stormy season with the looming threat of wildfire smoke. "Windsor and southern Ontario are sitting in that above normal temperature category," said Rachel Modestino, a meteorologist with The Weather Network. "One of the biggest features we're going to be seeing this summer is a heat dome." Modestino said heat waves, as the heat dome moves sluggishly from the central Unites States through the Great Lakes, can begin in Windsor-Essex in late June into July, and could be "on and off" throughout the summer. Windsor-Essex will also see thunderstorms that occur along the edges of that heat dome: Known as "Ring of Fire" thunderstorms, they occur where cooler and warmer air meet. "It'll be a combination of the thunderstorms, the Ring of Fire thunderstorms, but also the storm tracks coming up the East Coast where that high pressure is located." Modestino said wildfire smoke could also be a potential threat, travelling from northern Ontario and the prairies. Warmer, wetter summer on the way: ECCC Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips agrees. He told Windsor Morning host Amy Dodge Monday that this week, temperatures will remain in the mid to high 20s, with Tuesday expected to be the warmest day of the year so far. Philips said Environment Canada and other models suggest that Canada is going to be "warmer than normal" this summer. "All [models] saying we're going to be warm, warm, warm," he said. "There's lots of reds on the weather map I'm looking at and the redder it is, the more confident you are. Most of the computer runs are saying the same thing. We're pretty confident that it's going to be warmer than normal." Philips said the summer, according to Environment Canada's current 90-day forecast, shows "a little wetter than normal" weather for the region. 'Two to three months of extreme heat expected in Windsor-Essex by the turn of the century' Caroline Metz is the managing director of climate resilience and health at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo. Between 1990 and 2000, Metz said Windsor had 20 days with temperatures above 30 C. She said there has been "a noticeable increase," with that number jumping up to between 25 and 30 days in the past five years. "[Windsor-Essex is] projected to experience about 72 days of hot temperatures, that's above 30 C by the middle of the century, so 2050 to 2080. That's two and a half months of hot weather," she said. "In the latter part of the century, so 2070 to 2100, we're looking at 94 days of very hot temperatures above 30 C. That's three months of high heat." Drier weather in southwestern Ontario may impact farmers' crops How should you prepare for hazards this summer? Metz said "more intense, frequent and extreme" weather events are expected in the region. "The top three weather hazards that we need to be concerned about in Windsor and Essex [county] are flooding, extreme heat and wildfire or wildfire smoke," she said, calling extreme heat a silent killer. "Heat is really how climate change manifests most strongly." Metz said indoor overheating is a big concern: In 2021 a heat dome in B.C., saw more than 600 people die, with "98 per cent of deaths occurring indoors." To prepare for the summer heat, Metz says there are steps homeowners and tenants can take: Plant trees and plants around home. Even plants on a balcony can provide a cooling effect. Install exterior awnings on your windows. Add blinds or heat resistant curtains or window films that reduce the sun's rays coming into your home. Consider installing low emissivity windows that let sunlight in, but block solar heat. If renovating, upgrade the insulation in your home. Have a heat pump or an air conditioner or ensure you're able to get to a community cooling centre. Avoid using fans during extreme heat and use air conditioning instead if you have it. Most importantly, Metz advises people to stay connected with family and friends. "Social cohesion and social connectedness is a very big factor in heat resilience and in saving lives," she said. Metz said wildfire damage caused by burning embers coming from an existing wildfire is a threat too. She suggests people: Clear all combustible material like firewood, lumber and debris from around the home. Use as much non-combustible material as possible during construction. Use steel or fire-resistant material for fencing and decking. Install fire resistant roofing like a metal roof or class A shingles that are non combustible. Wildfire smoke is becoming an increasing threat for human health, Metz added. Fine particles that are less than 2.5 microns — roughly 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair — can affect the lungs and heart. She advises residents dealing with poor air quality and wildfire smoke to: Stay indoors as much as possible, if there is a warning for wildfire smoke. Seal your home. Keep windows and doors tightly closed to prevent the smoke from entering. Use an air purifier as it filters fine particles from the air. If you need to go outside, wear a well-fitted respirator, like an N95 mask. Windsor-Essex is no stranger to extreme rainfall events and flooding. Metz said the region has been experiencing a 40 per cent increase in precipitation compared to about 50 years ago and there are ways to prepare for flooding events: Resources available to affordably beat the heat Besides cooling centres and spray pads available throughout the summer, residents can access Keep the Heat, a Windsor-based program that helps low-income families pay a portion of their utility bills when they're higher because they're running an air conditioner more often. Dean Christie, the program's director of finance, said they have encouraged its clients to negotiate with their landlords to see if there is a possibility of saving on some of those costs. Christie said since the program's inception in 2005, rising temperatures have meant "an increasing demand." Consequently, they've had to reduce the amount people can access — from $1,000 to $800 — that people can access to pay their utility bills, so they can help more people. He said last year, 1,194 unique households, or 1,865 adults and 1,636 children, accessed the program — a 25 per cent increase from the previous year. But Christie says he worries about the future with extreme heat slated to become more common and prolonged. Higher consumption of air conditioning, as well as general inflation and cost of living pressure, has meant more people are looking to use the Keep the Heat program. "I think there will be more people this year," he said, "and that's one of the reasons why we have reduced the cap from $1,000 to $800 because we're hoping that we'll be able to service more people."
CBC
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Hot, dry summer forecast for Manitoba makes for 'bleak' outlook for wildfire situation
Social Sharing The news is good for those who like sunscreen, but not so much for those hoping for some reprieve from wildfires in Manitoba. "It looks warm, warm, warm. I mean, there will be moments where it'll be cool and it'll be refreshing, but the general pattern … right through to Labour Day, looks warmer than normal," Environment Canada climatologist Dave Phillips said about the summer forecast for Manitoba. "And the precipitation side is showing normal to below normal — not a good combination. When it's warmer than normal, you need more precipitation, not less." More than 17,000 people are being, or have been, evacuated from northern, western and eastern regions of the province due to an extremely active wildfire season. As of Sunday (the most recent update available), there were 25 active wildfires in Manitoba. A total of 106 have already been recorded, above the province's 20-year annual average of 84 at this time of year. It's a situation Manitoba has never seen before, with large-scale wildfires burning in every region of the province at the same time, Premier Wab Kinew said on Friday, following that up with "pray for rain." Those prayers might need to be a lot stronger. "The situation is, it looks bleak," Phillips said. "So there's going to be a lot of issues going forward." While the temperature outlook is pretty reliable, the rain could still be a wild card, he said. "[It's] hard to get it right today, let alone over over a month. I mean, you could have rain in your front yard but not your backyard," Phillips said. "The only strand of good news is that June, on the Prairies, is the wettest month of the year. June will often have maybe almost 60 per cent more precipitation than May, on average." One thing that can't be predicted in any season-long forecast is the chance for big soakers, which could really make a big impact in the fire zones and other parched areas. "They may happen," Phillips said, "but there's nothing on the radar horizon right now to suggest that would be the case." In the Flin Flon region, where a wildfire is at the edge of the evacuated city, there's been 18 consecutive days without a drop of precipitation, he said. April and May combined for maybe one-quarter of the normal amount of rain for that time of year. "It's just been too hot, too dry for too long. And of course, we see the consequences of that," Phillips said. Brandon and Winnipeg both saw rain Monday and the system could stretch as far north as Gimli, or even Dauphin, but nothing — not a drop — is expected until possibly the weekend in Flin Flon. "I mean, my gosh, we've had almost too much summer already," Phillips said, highlighting the heat that Winnipeg has experienced. "I've said to other people, I don't think Winnipeg will see a warmer temperature this summer than what they had in the early part of the second week of May." Winnipeggers sweltered in temperatures that hit 30 C or higher on six different days in May. On average, there's just one. It peaked with 35.6 C on May 12 and 36.8 C the following day. "I mean, that was just extraordinary," Phillips said.
CBC
30-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Fort Simpson 'warmer than Toronto' for days as heat wave hits southern N.W.T.
Much of the South Slave and Dehcho regions are experiencing high temperatures, as a cold winter gives way to a hot spring. Dave Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said Fort Simpson has been "warmer than Toronto" for the last two weeks. "It's certainly unseasonably warm," Phillips said. Phillips said the warm temperatures are coming from a low-pressure system from the south, which is being pushed into the N.W.T. In the South Slave, Fort Smith was expected to reach 31 C on Thursday. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, there have also been heat warning in Fort Chipewyan since Monday, setting a record of 32.2 C. Fort Smith resident Don Bourque says he plans to stay inside. "It'll be too hot for me to even go outside," Bourque said. "I got lots of work to do outside my house but it's too much heat. I can't compete with that." He also said the summer is expected to be "warmer than normal" across the territory, and the country. Adam McNab, Fort Smith's director of protective services, said extreme heat and dry conditions increase wildfire risk. "Any fire on the landscape has the potential to spread," McNab said. Right now, the town of Fort Smith has a full fire ban in place. "The wind is also making it very extreme fire weather, as far as heat, definitely try and find a cool place in your home," McNab said. "Make sure that your curtains are drawn. Stay cool and stay hydrated," he added. He also said despite all the areas that burned in the 2023 fire season, fire risk around Fort Smith remains high. He said residents need to exercise heightened awareness and caution. Fire danger was high to extreme across the Dehcho and South Slave regions on Thursday. Environment Canada expects cooler temperatures later this week.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Toronto to see more rain Friday as Environment Canada warns of possible flooding
People carry umbrellas while walking during a downpour of rain in Toronto on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. More rain is on the way for Toronto on Friday and Environment Canada is warning of possible localized flooding in some areas as a special weather statement remains in effect. The national weather agency says rainfall amounts of between 10 and 20 millimetres are possible today. A rainfall warning was issued for the city on Thursday but has since ended. 'Rain associated with a slow moving low pressure system will continue to affect the area today,' Friday's weather advisory read. 'Rain is expected to ease from west to east this afternoon or this evening.' Toronto has seen a particularly soggy week with temperatures that have been well below seasonal for this time of year. Friday will see a daytime high of just 12 C, about nine degrees cooler than the seasonal daytime high of 21 C. Slightly warmer weather is on tap for the weekend, with daytime highs of 16 C on both Saturday and Sunday respectively. More rain is expected on Saturday but sunshine will return to the forecast on Sunday. Speaking to CP24 on Thursday, Environment Canada's Dave Phillips said while rain is common in May, the wet weather this past week has been unrelenting. 'This should be maybe jacket weather or sweater weather but it is jacket and sweater weather together,' he said. 'The only good thing is that about a third of Mays we get snow in Toronto. There is no snow here. We haven't even had a frost day but we are just stuck in the middle with the same monotonous kind of weather day after day and we are getting kind of fed up with it.'
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Unusual stretch of May weather has Torontonians fed up
Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips shares his thoughts on the unseasonably cold weather and when Torontonians can expect warmer weather.
