THUNDER BAY — September has given city residents an extended summer, so much so that this may turn out to be the warmest September ever recorded in Thunder Bay.
Since 1941, when data collection began at Thunder Bay Airport, the highest average temperature Environment Canada has ever documented for September is 15.0 C.
That mark was established in 2015.
"If we take a look at the current forecast to finish off the month, there's a long stretch of temperatures expected to be well above normal...If we use those forecast values and plunk them into what we've already had this month, we end up with an average temperature around 15.5 C," meteorologist Jeff Coulson said Wednesday.
"That's well above the long-term average of 12.4 C for September, and in fact puts us into record territory."
Predicted maximum daily highs this week, from Wednesday through Sunday, are between five and ten degrees above normal for this time of year.
With June, July and August also having brought above-normal temperatures to Thunder Bay, Coulson said the Northwest region stands out for the kind of summer it had compared with other areas.
"When you look at the temperature anomaly map showing normal, near-normal or below-normal conditions, Northwestern Ontario and the far north have been notably above normal.
"As you get farther south towards central and southern Ontario, it's been more seasonal and maybe slightly above normal. But the warmth really shows up in the Northwest and the far north for this summer."
He added that long-range forecast models point to warmer-than-usual conditions continuing well into October.
The city is also on pace to experience its driest-ever September.
The current record of 22 millimetres was set in 1997, but the airport has only seen about seven millimetres so far.
