Friday, July 22, 2011

Record High

The setting sun plays with developing thunderstorms after a hot 35.6C day in Montreal. (ValleyWX Pic)

Montreal was among scores of cities across eastern North America to establish new record highs yesterday. The city reached a scorching 35.6C (96F) beating the old record of 35 set in 1955. It was just shy of the all time record set in August 1975 of 37.1C. Toronto also had a record high for the day and the month at 37.9C just shy of their warmest day ever of 38.3C. Ottawa reached 36.3C while Saint Hubert on Montreal's South Shore hit 36C, the warmest in the province. All regions had oppressive humidity with humidex reading in the mid 40's in Montreal and even touching 50C in southwest Ontario. Overnight lows were impressive as well with 26C so far in Montreal, and 28C (83F) in Burlington, Vermont. That low comes after a sweltering 97F yesterday for a record high as well.

Nearly 30 states have heat advisories of some sort today as well as portions of Quebec. The warnings in Quebec will be dropped today as the air mass dries out slightly. A weak cool front has sagged south across the area switching the winds from southwest to west. A few thunderstorms fired up along the front last evening producing vivid lightning once again at my home but little else. Sounds like a broken record this summer but the storms moved north of my location across the Island of Montreal. They produced heavy rain with some flooding and knocked a few branches onto power lines keeping Montreal firefighters busy.

Today and Saturday will remain warm with highs close to 32C. It will cool by Sunday (26C) with even cooler air to start next week before another warming trend. Showers and storms are possible Saturday night.

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