P.E.I. EXPERIENCING RECORD-BREAKING HEAT
Record-setting temperatures seen in most of P.E.I. Tuesday could continue today
It seems that summer doesn’t want to say goodbye to P.E.I. this year.
High temperatures yesterday led to an afternoon that was fit for the beach and a day that saw new temperature records across the province.
And there is still more to come.
The summery weather is expected to continue today, with Environment Canada forecasting a high of 22 C across P.E.I. “Hopefully everyone is out enjoying record-breaking temperatures,” Environment Canada meteorologist Linda Libby said during an interview. “It’s certainly one of the warmer October days we’ve seen in some time.”
By 3 p.m., Charlottetown had seen a maximum temperature of 21.1 C to beat the previous record of 19.4 C from 1937.
While not all of P.E.I.’s monitored areas have records going back as far as Charlottetown, which has an archive back to 1872, they also saw some historic heat. Summerside reached a high temperature of 21.4 C by 3 p.m. to beat the previous record of 20.6 C from 1963.
St. Peters reached 22.1 C to beat the previous 1981 record of 20 C, while 21.1 C in Maple Plains also topped that area’s record from the same year of 19 C.
East Point’s 19.6 C beat the most recent record of 17.1 C from 2007.
The only area of P.E.I. that did not see historic temperatures was in North Point, which was still warm for the season at 18.5 C but was also hindered by a colder wind.
In some areas, the temperature was about 10 degrees C higher than what would normally be expected for this time of year. “We’re substantially above normal,” said Libby.
Many took advantage of Tuesday’s weather.
Valerie and Neil Edwards of Halifax headed to the shoreline in Stratford to walk in the sand with their 22-month-old granddaughter, Ellie Edwards.
Neil was thrilled to have such a warm fall day to take a leisurely stroll with his granddaughter. “Phenomenal, phenomenal… the 24th of October, it’s incredible to have a day like this,’’ he said.
Mermaid resident Jenny Kennedy and her son, Cameron, also took advantage of the weather. The two went into Charlottetown to photograph the Disney cruise ship leaving the city’s waterfront.
“(Today) was fantastic, I was so pleased the weather was good while the cruise ship was in, too, because it leaves such an impression,” said Kennedy. “When the weather is horrible, cold and rainy, you kind of remember the place as not being cheery. This is really great (for the tourists) and we’re enjoying it, too.”
Libby said it would be this morning before Environment Canada would officially have the highest recorded temperature for the day.
The beach weather may continue, at least for one more day with high temperatures expected again on P.E.I. today. “We’re looking at another day or two days, depending on where you are in the Maritimes, of record-breaking approaching weather,” said Libby.
The trend is expected to come to an end with a cold front approaching the province later this week.
The system will likely hit P.E.I. Thursday evening, although some areas could see rain earlier in the day.