Fall fortunes on the rise
Weather Network predicts unseasonably warm temperatures for Windsor-Essex
If you were disappointed in Windsor’s weather this summer, you should be pleased by our conditions this fall — according to The Weather Network’s outlook for the season.
“It’s going to be really good news,” promised The Weather Network meteorologist Michael Carter on Wednesday.
“This upcoming weekend is a great example across Southwestern Ontario. We’re going to have summer-like temperatures settling in. We might break the 30 C mark on Saturday and Sunday.”
According to Carter, the local forecast for the months of September, October and November calls for warmer and slightly drier weather than usual — at least during the first half of the season.
That’s in contrast to spring and summer temperatures that were, “for the most part, below normal” across Windsor-Essex, Carter said.
Over those same months, precipitation was higher than normal — meaning our spring and summer was both colder and wetter than usual.
“I think folks are hoping to make up a little bit of ground with the pattern this fall. Maybe get a few more opportunities to get out and enjoy,” Carter said.
But seasons don’t last forever. The inevitable cooling down of Windsor-Essex’s climate is still coming — probably in mid-October, by Carter’s estimation.
That’s when local temperatures should return to normal ranges: an average of 15.8 C in October and an average of 8.8 C in November.
“The thing to keep in mind is we are in a transitional season,” Carter advised. “It’s a season of change ... We’re going to see some back-and-forth temperatures.”
Of course, thousands of Windsor-Essex property owners know all too well the chaotic nature of weather, having dealt with the worst flooding event in the history of the area on Aug. 29.
How does Carter’s forecast jibe with the occurrence of 150 millimetres of rainfall in the space of a few hours?
“That has really been a pattern across a lot of eastern North America. It’s not just local to Windsor,” Carter explained.
“We have seen very warm temperatures in the Gulf Stream. It provides extra moisture in the atmosphere. Extra juice for those storms.”
Windsor-Essex might benefit from some perspective. Carter pointed out that Western Canada has been dealing with recordbreaking dry weather this year.
“Vancouver had their longest streak ever of rain-free days this summer,” he said. “Developing drought has been a big problem across the southern Prairies. It’s kind of been a feast or famine situation.”
Want more fall weather information? Visit www.theweathernetwork.com.