It’s a scorcher
Hot and humid weather to remain through end of July
With the cool temperatures of June now forgotten, Mother Nature has turned up the heat in what’s becoming a sweltering Cape Breton summer.
The mercury climbed to 29 C on Tuesday, but it was the high humidity that made the day uncomfortable for those not in an air-conditioned environment or at the beach.
While the hot and sticky conditions may feel oppressive with Sydney’s humidex level reaching 37, the feel-like temperature is less than the prolonged heat experienced in Québec earlier this month when more than 70 deaths were linked to a heat wave that saw the humidex rise to more than 40.
But according to Saltwire Network chief meteorologist Cindy Day, the hot and humid weather has reached the point where people should be concerned and be taking precautions to avoid suffering heat stroke or heat-related or heatinduced illnesses.
“Medical issues start to arise when the humidex value reaches 40, and it becomes more of a danger concern for people – we’re not going to quite make it there, but we’ll be very, very close, so it is worth watching,” said Day, who was bang on with her prediction of a humidex reading of 37 for Cape Breton.
The veteran meteorologist and former television personality said the humidex is a better indicator as to how your body is able to cope with staying cool on a hot day.
“For example, you can have warmer days temperature-wise in places like Arizona, where it might hit 41 C or so, and still stay cool because your body is able to perspire and release its heat into the dry air,” she said.
“But, if the air mass is saturated, you can’t cool your body down in an effective way and you start to overheat just like a car would overheat, so the humidex is more indicative of the conditions your body is dealing with rather than just the straight air temperature.”
According to Day, the culprit behind the sticky weather is something called the Bermuda High, a permanent high-pressure cell that controls heat in the summer and nor’easters in the fall and winter and has a direct effect on Atlantic Canada
weather.
Day said there will be little reprieve from the warm, muggy weather, and that will come in the form of some light rain on Friday, from the heat over the next few days. She said the humidity will continue through the middle of next week with daytime humidex values expected to range from 31 to 36. Air temperature highs go from 29 C today to minimums of at least 25 C through next Tuesday.
Many area residents and
visitors took advantage of their proximity to the water by spending time at the beach, lakeside or near a river.
In Albert Bridge, teens carried on the area’s long-time tradition of beating the heat with a jump into the Mira River.
“This is a great place to be in the summer, there’s nowhere else better right now – we’re pretty lucky to be here,” said 17-year-old Nolan Parsons of Glace Bay, after climbing out of the river following a dual jump with friend Evan McNeil.
Meanwhile, Environment Canada re-issued a heat warning for Cape Breton late Tuesday afternoon. The warning stated that the “very warm and humid air mass has settled over the region” and will result in humidex values in the 27 C to 30 C range. The federal agency also warned that risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and those working or exercising outdoors.