The last time Toronto experienced a June 5th as hot as this past Saturday, Canada was less than a year into fighting in WWII.
On June 5, 1940 the temperature in Toronto hit 30.0°C, while on Saturday the heat skyrocketed to 32.5°C. And if you were outside, you certainly felt it.
Considering how cool most of May was, June seems to be trying to make up for the lack of warm weather with gusto. Not to be entirely outdone, Sunday also broke a 13-year-old heat record of its own -- it was the hottest June 6th since 2008 as temperatures reached 33.5°C at 4pm yesterday (the previous June 6th record was 33.0°C).
What's more, today has the opportunity to become the hottest June 7th since 1999, when temperatures hit a blazing 33.6°C. As of 11am, it's already 30.0°C in Toronto -- 37°C with the humidex. While a high of 31.0°C is being called for, it's not entirely out of reach that another heat record could be broken for the third day in a row.
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This stretch of scorching heat comes after last week's announcement from The Weather Network that Toronto's long-term summer forecast could expect an 'abundance of sunshine.'
“This summer will feature great weather for enjoying the beach and backyard barbecues, as most of Canada will see near normal or above normal temperatures, and more than the typical number of sunny days,” said Chris Scott, Chief Meteorologist at The Weather Network.
This is all very welcome news after more than a year of being cooped up due to COVID-19 restrictions. As the province moves toward entering Step One of its latest reopening plan on June 14, more and more opportunities for people to safely get together outside will begin to present themselves, including outdoor dining for up to four people per table, day camps, outdoor pools, and large outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, among others.
