Sunday, April 26, 2009

Wild Weather Weekend

Tree damage in the GTA yesterday

What an introduction to summer weather for Ontario and Quebec. Yesterday was downright sultry with new record high temperatures established across Ontario and Quebec including 28.3C in Montreal shattering the record of 27C set in 1942. Other records fell across many regions of the province including 30C in Sherbrooke. It was close to 32C in Concord, NH and 31C in Cornwall. Eastern Ontario was slightly cooler as a cold front moved into that region earlier in the day. Most regions were around 26C. However Ontario bore the brunt of fierce thunderstorms that developed along a sharp cold front late in the day and early evening. Toronto's Pearson Airport recorded a 115km/h wind gust the strongest there since a winter storm in January 1978. Gatineau had a gust to 96km/h. Many areas reported damage and injuries. Nearly 44,000 Hydro One customers were left without power with another 10,000 reported by Ottawa Hydro. Several roofs were damaged in Vanier and across the Gatineau region. Trees were down and many roads blocked. Funnel clouds were spotted in Ottawa and in Fergus west of the GTA.

The storms missed the Montreal region. Today is nearly 20 degrees colder in many cities, however that will be very short lived as the cold front retreats back north tonight and places us back in the hot and humid air. Look for highs to approach 30C again on Monday.

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