Canada's scorching summer may only be getting started: Exclusive July Outlook
Summer is certainly not over — July heats up again across Canada.
Summer started quickly across most of Canada, with many cities recording their hottest June on record, including Edmonton, Montreal, Abbotsford, and Victoria.
Visit our Complete Guide to Summer 2021 for an in-depth look at the Summer Forecast, tips to plan for it and much more!
The temperatures anomaly map below shows temperatures compared to normal during the month of June with the various shades of orange and red highlighting above normal temperatures all across southern Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Meanwhile, colder than normal temperatures were found around Hudson Bay and across much of northern Canada.
Is this a taste of what is to come for the rest of the summer?
So far July has actually delivered relief from the historic heat – including some autumnal weather for parts of eastern Canada. Here is the temperature anomaly map for the first five days of July. The various shades of blue and green highlight cooler than normal temperatures so far during July from southern Ontario to Newfoundland.
During the next five to seven days, we will continue to see shots of cooler weather into the eastern half of the country. Take a look at the national temperature forecast for Thursday (July 8). High temperatures will not make it out of the teens across much of Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
However, summer certainly is not over across these regions. As we look ahead to the second half of July, we expect that above normal temperatures will dominate once again across most of southern Canada. However, we do not expect relentless heat, as shots of cooler weather will break-up the heat at times.
Here is a look at our forecast for the month as a whole.
The most consistent heat is expected across western Canada where wildfire conditions will continue to worsen, and smoke will have an increasing impact on air quality. The combination of warm and dry conditions are also expected to have an impact on agriculture across the Prairies.
Here is a more detailed look at what we expect for the rest of July across Canada.
ATLANTIC CANADA: WARM AND HUMID PATTERN RETURNS - STORMY AT TIMES
After a chilly start to the month, we expect that a warmer than normal pattern will return to the region. The warm and humid pattern will also lead to the threat for thunderstorms at times, especially across the Maritimes. Also, we will continue to closely watch the tropics as a very busy hurricane season is underway. The remnants of Tropical Storm Elsa will track across the region this weekend with locally heavy rain, and we will likely hear from the tropics again before the season is over.
ONTARIO AND QUEBEC: HEAT RETURNS - OCCASIONAL STORMS
The first half of July will continue to bring a lack of consistent heat with a few shots of cooler weather and numerous threats for thunderstorms. However, mid and late July should bring more consistent heat to the region. We do not expect a prolonged period of relentless heat, but rather just enough heat to tip the final numbers to the warm side of seasonal.
Occasional thunderstorms will continue to bring much needed rain to southern Ontario and southern Quebec. However, wildfires will continue to be a major concern across northern Ontario, especially northwestern Ontario, and the smoke from these fires will often be seen elsewhere across the province and beyond.
PRAIRIES: HOT WEATHER DOMINATES - INCREASING DROUGHT CONCERNS
Late May and first half of June finally brought temporary relief from the prolonged drought conditions across the southern Prairies. However, drought concerns have returned due to the recent record heat and the return to a drier pattern. Drought concerns are expected to grow through July and into August. While thunderstorms will bring relief to parts of the region at times, very warm and dry conditions will likely have a major impact on agriculture. Also, smoke will be a concern at times due to the B.C. wildfires.
RELATED: Extreme heat wallops wheat and canola crops, pushing prices to record highs
BRITISH COLUMBIA: VERY WARM AND DRY - WILDFIRE CONCERNS CONTINUE TO MOUNT
We do not expect extended periods of extreme heat, but warmer than normal temperatures with below normal rainfall is a very concerning combination for a province that already has more than 200 wildfires.
A period of cooler and more unsettled weather is possible during the middle of the month, but we expect that wildfires and poor air quality will continue to be a concern throughout July and well into August.
MUST SEE: A by-the-numbers recap of B.C.'s devastating heat event
NORTHERN CANADA: NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES - SMOKE AND WILDFIRE CONCERNS
After a cool June and start to July, temperatures across Nunavut will trend closer to seasonal for mid and late July. Temperatures will continue to be near seasonal or on the warm side of seasonal across the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Air quality could also be a concern at times due to the wildfires that are burning in B.C.
