Ottawa sets record for hottest July in nearly 100 years, Canada

ByJulie Celestial
ottawa-sets-record-for-hottest-july-in-nearly-100-years-canada

Image credit: Pixabay

Last month was Ottawa's hottest July in nearly 100 years, Environment Canada announced. The capital city endured 18 days of highs above 30 °C (86 °F), including three days that smashed temperature records, and six nights where the mercury did not fall below 20 °C (68 °F).

Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips declared July 2020 as the hottest on record in the country's capital, according to data gathered at the Ottawa airport. The city sweltered under intense heatwaves for more than half of the month.

Four heat warnings were issued last month, which lasted for five days. Temperatures were above 30 °C (86 °F) for 18 days, including three days with record-breaking heat.

Heat records were smashed on July 9, 10, and 26, with temperatures of 35.8 °C (96.4 °F), 36.9 °C (98.4 °F), and 35.5 °C (95.9 °F), respectively.

There were also six nights were the temperature did not drop below 20 °C (68 °F).

"In all three accounts, Ottawa International Airport broke the record for the warmest July. The afternoon highs were almost four degrees warmer than normal," said Phillip.

"The lows were about two degrees warmer than normal, and the daytime– stick a thermometer in the capital– and it was about three degrees warmer than normal."

The average high for July 2020 was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F), while the average low was 17.4 °C (63.3 °F). The mean temperature last month was 24 °C (75.2 °F).

The previous high-temperature record was 30.3 °C (86.5 °F), set in 2012. Meanwhile, the previous record for the highest low temperature was 17.1 °C (62.8 °F) recorded in 1988, while the mean temperature record was in 1955 with 23.6 °C (74.5 °F).

In 1921, there were 20 days at or above 30 °C (86 °F). The average high that year was 31.4 °C (88.5 °F), the average low was 18.5 °C (65.3 °F), and mean temperature was 24.9 °C (76.8 °F).

Phillip said August is usually about a degree cooler than July, on average, and no heat records are expected during this month. However, August will still feel much like July. 

It's going to be the same pattern. We don't see a break down at all. It's going to be the summer of summers: a bummer for some and a hummer for others

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