Maritimers try to cool off on unseasonably hot May day

Parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia dealt with hot weather on Thursday.

A taste of summer arrived unexpectedly Thursday, with parts of the Maritimes tying for the hottest spot in the country.

New Brunswick felt the brunt of the heat and residents across the province were eager to soak it all in.

At Parlee Beach, the unseasonably warm temperatures provided welcome relief. Some, like Melanie McVicar, even took the day off, prioritizing the sunshine.

“It was a day off, but we pulled our son out of school because we thought it’d be a good experience for him to come to the beach in May,” said McVicar.

In Moncton, restaurants welcomed customers looking for a taste of the season. Todd VanIderstine, owner of Gallagher’s Irish Pub, was caught off guard but quickly adapted.

“The nice weather was completely unexpected. Literally this morning, I woke up and I ran into our storage room with umbrellas and patio cushions out,” Vaniderstine said. “I think people are eager and they’ve been cooped up a little too long just wanting to get out, enjoy the weather, and have a nice cold.”

The summer vibes extended across the region, with Halifax also experiencing a glimpse of the warmer days ahead.

“It’s surprisingly hot. I did not dress for the weather today. We were just commenting on how disappointing it is that it’s so beautiful today incoming on the weekend it’s going to be 11 degrees and rainy,” said Halifax resident Mary Kate Archibald.

Dan Hicks, director of Parks for the City of Moncton, said the heat is helping crews prepare the city’s baseball fields for the season.

“Honestly, we’ve been welcoming it. The grounds have been so wet and saturated with the rain, this little bit of heat up will dry things up so that we can actually get on the land. There’s a lot of places that have been too wet to get our equipment on,” Hicks said.