Latest news with #StevenFlisfeder
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontario weekend weather: Severe thunderstorms possible in parts of Ontario
Cool, comfortable weather has arrived in southern Ontario, following a storm front that passed through the area on Thursday. But it's not exactly safe to put away your umbrella just yet, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. 'For the rest of the day (July 18), temperatures will be around normal for this time of the year, maybe slightly below,' warning preparedness meteorologist Steven Flisfeder said. 'Right in that mid-20s, peaking in the 27 C range.' Friday will be the coolest day of the weekend, he added. But a storm is coming through overnight. Starting overnight into the morning hours, showers and thunderstorms are expected to hit southwestern Ontario. 'Probably just before midnight, if not a bit sooner, so there will be those showers. That activity will continue across southern Ontario through the rest of the morning hours tomorrow,' he said. 'With that, there is a chance of severe thunderstorms, particularly southwestern Ontario.' He was unsure how extreme the storm would be, and if the weather agency would need to issue any advisories. 'It's a very small window where there could be severe thunderstorms in the mid to late-morning hours.' With the storms moving through, the winds could also pick up, and Flisfeder said it could be gusty as the weather pattern continues across the province. He advises people watch the weather forecast from a reliable source for your location or destination. For Saturday afternoon and evening, the clouds should clear, and temperatures will reach the high 20s, he added. The one exception was around the southeastern tip of Georgian Bay and into Algonquin Park. 'Those areas will probably be slightly cooler, so if there's people going camping for the weekend, they might want to pack some extra layers, especially for the overnight,' Flisfeder said. For the remainder of the weekend and the start of the work week, the sky looks clear and sunny, with temperatures at or above average. Temperatures should remain within the normal range until midweek, when things will warm up again. After an intense heat wave over the last week, temperatures can feel quite cool for some people. And that means they may try to warm up by sitting in the sunshine. 'It's been so warm for so long that our bodies and our perception hasn't had a chance yet.' In fact, the Thursday cold front that moved in following thunderstorms probably shocked people, as temperatures went from the 30s down to overnight lows in the teens. 'It was a big change, but it brought us back to where we should be.' Flisfeder said the sun's rays are still intense this time of year, and while the air may be cooler than it has been, we still need to protect against sunburns and heat stroke. To stay up-to-date on the weather forecast, visit or download the WeatherCAN app to your smartphone. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Dangerous thunderstorms' with wind gusts up to 100 km/h and risk of tornado heading for parts of Ontario today
It's already raining in parts of eastern Ontario, and there's a risk of 'dangerous thunderstorms' that could bring tornadoes for some parts of the province as a storm continues through the area, says Environment and Climate Change Canada. A low-pressure system is coming through the province, and storms have already passed by most of southern Ontario. Anyone camping in southwestern Ontario should also pay attention to the weather alerts Wednesday But wind and torrential rain are arriving to areas in the east, such as Carleton Place, Merrickville and Kemptville. Severe thunderstorm watches are in effect for those areas and others including Perth, Smiths Falls, Pembroke, Smiths Falls, Arnprior and Renfrew. 'Thunderstorms along a cold front are expected to move through the region this afternoon before exiting the province by evening,' Environment Canada said in a weather alert. Rainfall with amounts exceeding 50 millimetres are possible. According to Instant Weather Ontario , storm activity is expected to 'ramp up significantly by mid-afternoon.' Instant Weather Ontario says around 3 p.m. storms are expected to arrive in the Ottawa Valley. 'That's when the tornado risk will be at its highest,' it said in a Facebook post Thursday. Forecasters are also calling for heavy wind gusts up to 100 kilometres an hour, and a tornado is possible. The weather alert is for this afternoon — with some areas under severe thunderstorm watches already. The weather watcher said 'dangerous thunderstorms may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and torrential rain.' 'Utility outages are possible. Significant damage to property, buildings and trees is possible.' Anyone camping today should also pay attention to the weather alerts. Environment and Climate Change Canada warning preparedness meteorologist Steven Flisfeder recommends connecting with park rangers to inquire about the safety plan — especially if you are out in the woods. 'Know where the safest places are to get to if you are in a forested area,' he said. Tornadoes can develop rapidly, Environment Canada said on its website. Warning signs include severe thunderstorms, an extremely dark sky, sometimes highlighted by green or yellow clouds, a rumbling or whistling sound and a funnel cloud at the rear base of a thundercloud, often behind a curtain of heavy rain or hail. The extreme weather should pass into Quebec later today. Once the storms move past the province, the skies should be clear for the rest of Thursday and Friday. But you should also anticipate temperatures back within the seasonal range. Friday's forecast is highs of 23 to 25 C across the province. 'There's a new air mass keeping things fresh,' Flisfeder said. And the cool air continues overnight, with lows dipping to 12 or 15 C, depending on where you are in the province. 'That's where temps should be for the season, more comfortable.' To stay up-to-date on the weather forecast, visit or download the WeatherCAN app to your smartphone. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Montreal Gazette
5 days ago
- Climate
- Montreal Gazette
Thunderstorm to strike Montreal around 3 p.m., Environment Canada warns
Thunderstorms are expected to sweep through Montreal around 3 p.m. Thursday, bringing intense downpours, strong winds and the risk of flash flooding. According to Environment Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder, storms currently tracking near Ottawa are moving quickly and could begin affecting the Montreal area 'slightly before 3 p.m.' The agency had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the region earlier in the day, but conditions have since evolved. 'We're seeing storms on the doorstep,' Flisfeder said. 'They'll be crossing the island fairly quickly — likely no more than 30 minutes to an hour in any one area — but the rainfall could be torrential.' Flisfeder said rainfall rates could reach 30 to 50 millimetres per hour, though not all areas will receive the same amount. With ground still saturated from Sunday's record storm, which flooded streets and basements across the city, there is a heightened risk of flash flooding It comes just four days after a storm system flooded parts of the city with up to 100 mm of rain, leaving streets and basements underwater from Ahuntsic-Cartierville to St-Léonard. There is also an ongoing heat warning. Thursday's storm watch, issued at 6:07 a.m., notes that weather conditions 'are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy downpours today.' It also raises the risk of flash flooding and warns that nautical activities could be rendered dangerous by 'sudden, severe wind gusts over bodies of water.' The federal agency notes also that power outages could occur during storm activity. The ongoing heat warning — in effect for much of this week — notes that while 'temperatures won't rise above 30 degrees Celsius today, humidex values will remain high at around 35.' Temperatures are expected to 'drop markedly' on Thursday evening, the agency said. Sunday's rainfall saw up 100 mm fall on the Montreal area as stretches of local highways, city streets and basements were flash flooded by the surge of precipitation and power was knocked out to thousands of households. This story was originally published
Hamilton Spectator
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Heat warning could extend into Wednesday
Although Hamilton will soon see some relief from the heat, there is a chance the heat warning with be extended again. 'We're currently expecting temperatures to be in the high 20s and should there be more guidance that suggests they could remain in the 30s, we would have to continue the heat warning,' said Steven Flisfeder, an Environment Canada meteorologist. The city's medical officer of health extended its two-day heat warning to Tuesday due to 'dangerously hot and humid conditions.' On Tuesday at 1 p.m., temperatures peaked at 33 C, with a humidex making it feel like 42. The humidity was about 70 per cent until about 10 a.m. Tuesday, before dropping into the 50 to 60 per cent range — a more comfortable level, but still humid enough to feel muggy. This is what made the week's heat warning out of the norm, said Doug Gillham, a senior meteorologist at The Weather Network. According to The Weather Network, Sunday beat the record for the highest humidex in June in Hamilton at 46.6. As we get into the week, temperatures will cool down. Environment Canada forecasts a drop in temperatures to a high of 22 C on Thursday before 26 C on Friday. The temperatures and humidity that sparked the heat warning do not reflect a preview of the summer, said Gillham, but temperatures will be higher than normal. 'It's quite possible that this is the worst that summer has to offer in terms of the combination of heat and humidity,' he said. Temperatures and humidity in July and August are expected to be slightly higher than normal, but daily forecasts are not linear. The summer will also bring more rain and thunderstorms than normal, said Gillham, but the rain will not dominate the summer. 'We think most of our precipitation will pop in thunderstorms where it's often localized and it's a lot in a short period of time, but it doesn't wash out the day,' he said. In the short term, with Canada Day and summer vacations around the corner, Gillham said the weather will be more manageable. 'If you're not a fan of the heat, hang in there. Relief is on the way,' he said. Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. cbholla@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
New York Times
24-06-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
Canada's Biggest City Wilts Under Intense Heat
The extreme heat that is baking parts of the northeast United States has also settled over Toronto and parts of eastern Canada for the third day in a row, pushing many Canadians indoors to seek air-conditioned relief. The heat led to the temporary closings of some public schools because it was too hot for lifeguards to work, according to local regulations, much to the consternation of many residents. Temperatures in Toronto on Monday reached 36 degrees Celsius, or 97 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the city's hottest day since July 13, 2016, according to Environment Canada, which runs a federal meteorological service. The stifling heat continued into Tuesday, with Toronto recording an afternoon temperature of nearly 36 degrees Celsius, or 96 degrees Fahrenheit, with high humidity readings making conditions even more sticky and unpleasant. 'The ability for the body to regulate its temperature is far more difficult when we have those high humidity, muggy days,' said Steven Flisfeder, a meteorologist at Environment Canada. The weather prompted health warnings from Toronto officials who advised people to remain in cool spaces, drink plenty of water and recognize the signs of heat exhaustion, which include nausea and extreme fatigue. Some easing of the heat should come on Wednesday, when temperatures in Toronto and the surrounding areas are expected to dip to levels that are more typical of late June, forecasters said. The intense heat led to the sporadic closing of some public pools in Toronto, provoking an outcry from people who had looked forward to a cool dip. The shutdowns were caused by labor safety regulations that limit working in extreme heat, said Olivia Chow, the city's mayor, who apologized for the action. 'This cannot happen again,' Ms. Chow said. 'When it's hot outside, residents need to be able to get out to the pools and cool down.' To avoid a repeat, the city is looking at increasing the number of lifeguards and building more spaces for them to take shade, Ms. Chow said. The Toronto District School Board sent an advisory to parents asking them to prepare students for 'uncomfortable conditions.' The school year ends on Friday. The district, Canada's largest, runs 579 schools, and of those, only 177, or about 30 percent, have air conditioning, according to the school board. About two-thirds of Canadian homes have air conditioning, according to the national census agency. In the United States, about 90 percent of homes are air-conditioned. Ottawa, Montreal and other cities across the southern regions of Ontario and Quebec were experiencing similar heat and humidity levels.
