Record warm temperatures in Ottawa on Thursday
Ottawa's spring heat wave continues, with a second straight day of record-breaking temperatures.
The temperature hit 29.7 C at 4 p.m. at the Ottawa Airport, making it the warmest May 12 in Ottawa in more than 100 years. The previous record for warmest May 12 in Ottawa was 27.6 C, set back in 1992.
Environment Canada says the temperature hit 30.5 C between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Environment Canada's David Phillips says the "absolutely gorgeous" weather will continue into the weekend.
"My gosh, we could have four days in a row with temperatures that are breaking the all-time record for these particular days," Phillips told CTV Morning Live.
"It is very difficult to get a 30-degree temperature in early to mid-May in Ottawa. Typically, winter has just kind of left a week or so ago, and it's so hard to get those scorching types of temperatures."
Phillips says a "big high-pressure area" is dominating the weather over a good part of eastern North America.
Environment Canada’s weather forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 31 C on Thursday.
Toay is the second straight day with record-breaking warm temperatures, following the warmest May 11 in Ottawa in more than 100 years. The temperature hit 28.4 C on Wednesday.
Phillips says while it will be hot in Ottawa, you will not feel the humidity.
"These days in the middle in the July would be sultry and oppressive, we'd be saying, 'Oh my gosh, it's the humidity,'" Phillips said.
"The trees are not growing as much, plants and crops are not so all that kind of local moisture is not getting into the air; it is just in the atmosphere coming from the south."
The record-breaking temperatures are expected to continue – Friday’s forecast calls for sunshine and a high of 31 C.
Skies will stay clear Friday evening and temperatures will fall to 17 C overnight.
On Saturday – plenty of sunshine and a high of 31 C.
Phillips says if you don't like the humidity, this may be the best part of the spring and summer.
"I think this is probably the most comfortable kind of days that we probably will have the whole year. It's free energy time; you're not spending money on your air conditioning or your heat."
Environment Canada's forecast calls for temperatures to fall to 22 C on Monday and 19 C on Tuesday, which will still be warmer than normal for mid-May.
"When the cool off comes, we see more Canadian air and American air, it's still going to be above seasonal values."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.