It’s the hottest October 6 in Ottawa history, as the hot and sunny weather continues this fall. “I think it truly is nature’s last hurrah,” Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips said about the summer-like temperatures. The temperature hit 28.8 C at 3 p.m., breaking the record for warmest Oct. 6 in Ottawa. The previous record for warmest Oct. 6 in Ottawa is 27.2 C, set in 1946. Environment Canada’s forecast calls for a high of 30 C today, with the humidex making it feel like 33. The temperature warmed up to 29.9 C on Sunday, setting a record for the warmest Oct. 5 in Ottawa’s history. The previous record was 27.5 C, set in 2003. “The weather is cooperating in the sense it’s a high-pressure area,” Phillips said. “This often means dry, sunny and mild conditions and it’s causing a flow of warm air from the southern part of the United States.” Phillips notes the normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 14 C and a low of 5 C. “You should be happy with 14,” Phillips joked. ”Instead, it’s going to be 30 degrees and a humidex value. It’s almost like the dog days of summer have come back.” While today is expected to be the final day with a high in the 30 C range, Phillips says sunshine and warmer-than-normal temperatures will return for the long weekend. “Not quite as warm, but certainly temperatures that are 4, 5, 6 degrees warmer than they should be for this time of year,” Phillips said. “If you haven’t gone colour change looking, this may be a good time to go. We’ve had almost delightful boring kind of weather. It has been absolutely consistent for so long, just week after week. You don’t often see that in the fall. The fall you get kind of a pattern – kind of a couple of good days, followed by a couple of nasty days.” Ottawa forecast It will be mainly sunny today. High 30 C. Clear tonight. Low 17 C. Tuesday will see showers through the day before ending in the afternoon then cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers. Ottawa could see 10 to 20 mm of rain. High 24 C with the temperature falling to 18 C in the afternoon. Sunshine returns on Wednesday. High 13 C. Thursday will be sunny. High 13 C. The outlook for Friday calls for a mix of sun and cloud. High 16 C. Saturday will see a mix of sun and cloud with a 40 per cent chance of showers. High 17 C. The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 14 C and a low of 5 C.
