Forecast for record heat forces cancellation of Montreal Marathon

The Montreal Marathon, scheduled for this weekend, has been cancelled by organizers due to the expected heat and humidity. (Rock & Roll Oasis Marathon Photo)

Fall arrives Friday afternoon at 4:02PM, but you would not know that based on the forecast. Today marks the 11 consecutive day in Montreal with no rain and above normal temperatures. The forecast for the upcoming weekend calls for more hot weather, with near record highs of 28C (84F) Saturday and 30C (86F) Sunday, along with elevated humidity levels. The record high temperature for Saturday is 30C set in 1961, and 26.7C Sunday, set in 1968. We most certainly will break the record Sunday. The forecast has prompted organizers of the Rock and Roll/Oasis Montreal Marathon to cancel the full marathon. The half marathon and 10km events will still take place, but start at 7:30am. This surprisingly hot weather comes at the end of what was a rather dismal summer. While Montreal is enjoying this spectacular forecast, the first snow of the season covered the ground in parts of northern and central Alberta. Below normal temperatures have replaced searing heat across portions of western Canada. The cool weather has been welcome, as the area was experiencing a devastating fire season.

An aerial photo provided by the Government of Dominica, showing widespread devastation in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria is churning through the waters of the northern Caribbean Sea on Thursday morning after devastating the tiny island of Dominica, along with portions of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Dominica has been leveled,  most of the structures damaged or destroyed. Water and power have been disrupted, and 14 fatalities have been reported. Puerto Rico also took a direct hit from Maria on Wednesday, with torrential rains and 150mph winds. Two National Weather Service radars was destroyed along with most observation equipment. Widespread flooding has occurred, with over 300mm (1 foot) of rain falling. Power is out to the entire island of over 3.5 million residents. The Governor of Puerto Rico estimates that it may take 4 to 6 months to reconstruct the entire electrical grid. As of 8am Thursday morning, Maria had intensified again to a category 3 hurricane, with 115 mph (185km/h) winds. The center of the storm was located 150km northwest of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Maria's next target will be the Turks and Caicos.

Meanwhile tropical storm Jose will not go away. The peaky system continues to pound east coast beaches from Cape Cod to the Outer Banks with huge swells and surf. Coastal flooding has been reported. Jose is forecast to drift south off the eastern seaboard and gradually weaken this weekend.