Expert warns we may not have experienced the last heatwave.
Some believe this year’s heat spike to be an effect of global warming, but David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, points to several other factors, including the atmosphere and human activities.
More specifically, he attributes it to the Bermuda High.
“We have this semi-permanent system called the Bermuda High. It’s a high-pressure area that sits over the North Atlantic at this time of year. When it moves a bit north and west, it pulls warm tropical air up. That’s why we saw this heat wave stretch from Denver to Atlanta to New York to Toronto,” said Phillips. “It brought not only heat but humidity, and because there was no forest fire smoke to block the sun, the air roasted us even more. It’s like putting the Rogers Centre dome over Toronto, the air is trapped, pressing down, warming up by compression, and we’re just baking underneath it.”
In contrast to recent spans of weather, residents are thankful to have had some slight relief from the extreme heat and are hoping for more stable summer conditions. However, Torontonians should not let their guard down just yet as Philips warns of a possible repetition this summer.
“We’re not finished with it yet. The dog days of summer don’t even arrive until around the third week of July, when we normally have our highest temperatures. Maybe what we just had was the warmest day, but the models suggest we’re in for more. What was more spectacular was how we went from that heat to two or three days that felt like spring, and now, heading into the long weekend, temperatures are rocketing back to 30 degrees. So, my sense is this back-and-forth is what we’ll see; we haven’t finished. It was our first heat wave, but not our last.”
He also spoke of the dangers of such extreme weather for Ontario residents, pointing out the possibility of health threats.
“Environment Canada described it as dangerous, not just because it was the first heat wave, but because it was intensely warm, about 11 degrees warmer than normal, and it lasted morning, noon, and night for four days,” he explained.
Beyond health concerns, he notes the psychological effects of the heat, stressing the importance of being more patient and kinder towards each other in the city.
“One thing we often forget when talking about health issues is how heat affects our behaviour; how short-fused we are, how our moods change. People get irritated, they pick fights, crime goes up during heat waves. So, we have to be a little more kind, more understanding. It’s the heat getting to you, not someone’s attitude.”
