'Not too hot, not too cold': Dave Phillips provides summer predictions
Sunday marks the official first day of summer.
At 11:32 p.m., the sun will reach its northern path in its orbit, marking the official start of the summer solstice.
For those wondering what summer will be like in Simcoe Muskoka, Dave Phillips, Sr. Climatologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, offers his predictions.
"Not too hot, not too cold," says Phillips. "Almost ideal from a temperature point of view."
So far, we've experienced a taste of summer throughout spring, with five days in Barrie that brought temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.
The remainder of June isn't showing scorching humidity, according to Phillips.
He predicts this year will bring warmer than average temperatures, but not the same sweltering heat we saw last year.
Above seasonal temperatures are anticipated throughout July, August and September.
Last year brought a warmer summer on average, with 24 days in Barrie where the temperatures soared past 30 degrees Celsius.
In Ontario, the lack of rain, however, has proven to be a concern thus far.
January initiated dry conditions, with May and June displaying a similar pattern. The precipitation levels are almost a third of what is considered normal.
Phillips says the lack of rain is worrisome.
"In the heat of summer, you need more rain, not less," he says.
For those seeking warm lake temperatures, this year may leave much to be desired. Water temperatures are expected to be cooler than last year and lake levels won't be as high.
Phillips says we'll have our share of severe weather as well.
"We'll get our share, but the beauty of the summer is it doesn't last very long."
Sunday marks the longest day in the northern hemisphere, with 15.5 hours of sunlight.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.