'Dog days of summer': Hot and humid weather to end July in Ottawa

Hot and humid conditions will continue to grip Ottawa for the final days of July and the start of August. 

"This is the time of the dog days of summer," David Phillips, Environment Canada senior climatologist, told CTV Morning Live.

Environment Canada's forecast calls for a mainly sunny day. High 31 C, with the humidex making it feel like 39.

This could be the third day in July with temperatures hitting 30 C, after five days with temperatures above 30 C in June.

"This is typically when we get our warmest temperatures in the Ottawa Valley. But it's not going to be excessively hot; no records being set this week, but yet, consistently, temperatures of 30 degrees," Phillips said Tuesday.

"I think what's different about this kind of heat spell right now as opposed to the earlier ones is the temperatures are going to stay elevated – 20 degrees or 20 plus. We haven't seen that in previous heat events in Ottawa, it's kind of cooled off at night."

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Becoming cloudy this evening with a 40 per cent chance of showers late this evening and overnight. There is a risk of a thunderstorm this evening and overnight. Low 20 C.

Wednesday will see showers with the risk of a thunderstorm. High 26 C with the humidex making it feel like 35.

Environment Canada says the hot and humid conditions are due to the excessive rain through the spring and early summer.

"The source is homegrown. It's local. It is all of the moisture that fell in May, June, and July," Phillips told CTV News Ottawa on Monday.

"We've had so much rain in eastern Ontario, maybe 50 per cent more precipitation than we normally would get."

A mix of sun and cloud on Thursday. High 30 C.

The outlook for Friday calls for sunshine and a high of 30 C.

Saturday will be cloudy with a high of 28 C.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 26 C and a low of 16 C.

Gatineau extending beach/pool hours

The City of Gatineau will extend swimming hours at beaches and certain pools this week due to the hot and humid weather.

Starting Tuesday, lifeguards will be on duty at Parc Moussette, Parc du Lac-Beauchamp and Parc des Cèdres beaches from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The opening hours for the following swimming pools will be extended until 8:50 p.m.:

• Piscine du parc Desjardins (secteur de Hull);
  Piscine du parc Eugène-Sauvageau (secteur de Hull);
  Piscine du parc Fontaine (secteur de Hull);
  Piscine du parc Laurent-Groulx (secteur de Hull);
  Piscine du parc La Vérendrye (secteur de Gatineau);
  Piscine du parc Jack-Eyamie (secteur de Masson-Angers).