'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
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.