Can it get any hotter? Try 40 C with humidity
By John Burman
The Hamilton Spectator(Jul 15, 2006)
This may well be the hottest weekend of the year.
Forecasters are calling for temperatures in the Hamilton area in the low 30s, which could push it close to 40 when the humidity is factored in.
That's hot!
But - if it makes you feel cooler - it is not going to be as hot as it was across Canada this week 70 years ago, when 800 people died in a killer heat wave that set the all-time high temperature record of 44.4 C in St. Albans, Man.
That heat wave, says Environment Canada's senior climatologist David Phillips, was "the grand-daddy of them all."
Nevertheless, it will be hot enough today and tomorrow that Niagara and Halton have both issued heat alerts.
That means residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, rest frequently and watch their activity levels outside. Folks are advised to stay in cool areas and use air conditioning if they've got it.
On days like this, a fan is not much good for preventing heat-related illness. A cool bath or shower works better.
Sounds like good advice for Hamiltonians too, although as of last night no similar alert was issued to the city.
Hamilton should hit 29 C today and cool down to 17 tonight but rocket back up to 31 tomorrow. The hot weather will continue Monday, with temperatures expected to hit 31 C that day too.
Phillips says data collected by Environment Canada shows the winter and spring of this year -- from December 2005 through May 2006 -- were the warmest since nationwide record-keeping began in 1948. If you're going to head for the beach to keep cool this weekend, be warned a number of area beaches are closed because of high E.coli bacteria counts.
* Beaches at Bayfront Park, Pier 4 and Confederation Park beach are not safe for swimming.
* Beaches at Binbrook, Christie and Valens conservation areas are safe, as are beaches on Lake Ontario at Beach Boulevard and Van Wagner's Beach.
* The only safe beach in Halton is at the Kelso Conservation area in Milton.
* Beaches at Bronte Park, Coronation Park, Beachway north and south in Burlington and Halton Hills Prospect Park are not safe.
Because of the heat, Halton Region officials are asking residents to minimize outdoor water use this weekend to ease pressure on the region's water reservoirs.
Officials advise lawn watering, car washing and driveway washing should be kept to a minimum. Also, flower and vegetable gardens should be watered by hand and only as needed.
If you would just like to sit and enjoy cool tunes, you can check out the Summer Music in the Park at the Central Park bandshell on New Street in Burlington tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. And it is free.
So is an outdoor screening at the Dundas Valley Conservation area, with the family film Zathura.
It's part of The Spectator's Go Films in the Forest series.
In honour of the paper's 160th birthday, admission is free with the coupon in today's Spectator. Gates open at 7 p.m. and space is limited.
With files from Spectator wire services
jburman@thespec.com
905-526-2469
By John Burman
The Hamilton Spectator(Jul 15, 2006)
This may well be the hottest weekend of the year.
Forecasters are calling for temperatures in the Hamilton area in the low 30s, which could push it close to 40 when the humidity is factored in.
That's hot!
But - if it makes you feel cooler - it is not going to be as hot as it was across Canada this week 70 years ago, when 800 people died in a killer heat wave that set the all-time high temperature record of 44.4 C in St. Albans, Man.
That heat wave, says Environment Canada's senior climatologist David Phillips, was "the grand-daddy of them all."
Nevertheless, it will be hot enough today and tomorrow that Niagara and Halton have both issued heat alerts.
That means residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, rest frequently and watch their activity levels outside. Folks are advised to stay in cool areas and use air conditioning if they've got it.
On days like this, a fan is not much good for preventing heat-related illness. A cool bath or shower works better.
Sounds like good advice for Hamiltonians too, although as of last night no similar alert was issued to the city.
Hamilton should hit 29 C today and cool down to 17 tonight but rocket back up to 31 tomorrow. The hot weather will continue Monday, with temperatures expected to hit 31 C that day too.
Phillips says data collected by Environment Canada shows the winter and spring of this year -- from December 2005 through May 2006 -- were the warmest since nationwide record-keeping began in 1948. If you're going to head for the beach to keep cool this weekend, be warned a number of area beaches are closed because of high E.coli bacteria counts.
* Beaches at Bayfront Park, Pier 4 and Confederation Park beach are not safe for swimming.
* Beaches at Binbrook, Christie and Valens conservation areas are safe, as are beaches on Lake Ontario at Beach Boulevard and Van Wagner's Beach.
* The only safe beach in Halton is at the Kelso Conservation area in Milton.
* Beaches at Bronte Park, Coronation Park, Beachway north and south in Burlington and Halton Hills Prospect Park are not safe.
Because of the heat, Halton Region officials are asking residents to minimize outdoor water use this weekend to ease pressure on the region's water reservoirs.
Officials advise lawn watering, car washing and driveway washing should be kept to a minimum. Also, flower and vegetable gardens should be watered by hand and only as needed.
If you would just like to sit and enjoy cool tunes, you can check out the Summer Music in the Park at the Central Park bandshell on New Street in Burlington tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. And it is free.
So is an outdoor screening at the Dundas Valley Conservation area, with the family film Zathura.
It's part of The Spectator's Go Films in the Forest series.
In honour of the paper's 160th birthday, admission is free with the coupon in today's Spectator. Gates open at 7 p.m. and space is limited.
With files from Spectator wire services
jburman@thespec.com
905-526-2469