It may have felt more like summer than fall in some parts of Waterloo Region on Tuesday. Environment Canada said monitors at the Region of Waterloo International Airport reached 26.8 degrees Celsius by 3 p.m. That makes it the warmest Oct. 13 since the last record was set back in 2008, when temperatures reached 26.5 degrees Celsius. “Warm temperature records in September and November are becoming more common than new record cold. That’s climate change,” said Rob Kuhn, a severe weather meteorologist with Environment Canada. Over the last 80 years, records from the weather office showed the area reached 30 degrees in October three times: Kuhn said warm air will sometimes blow into the region at the start of fall. “It’s not common, but I would not call it unusual because we do get into tropical air,” he said. Patio weather Some people took the opportunity to enjoy their favourite patios. Outdoor seating was still available in Uptown Waterloo at Beertown, Piper Arms and Duke of Wellington. Nicole Woodbridge, a manager at Duke of Wellington, said their outdoor seating will be open until the city tells them they have to pack it in. “So, usually, it’s mid to late October.” “This has got to be one of the last days we’re going to have,” Woodbridge mused. “How can you not want to get outside in the sunshine? God knows we’re going to have rain soon, so let’s soak it up while we can.” According to Environment Canada’s seven-day forecast, flurries are possible on Friday as the overnight low is expected to dip down to zero.
