St. Patrick's Day weather by the numbers: Record warmth and cold
Digital Reporter
Monday, March 17, 2014, 9:43 AM -
We're a few days shy of the official start of spring, but winter isn't going quietly, as people in Ontario are finding, to their regret.
Leaving aside the messy weather forecast for Wednesday morning, people woke up after a chilly weekend to cold temperatures well in the negative double-digits.
Record cold, in fact, in several communities breaking records dating back to the 1970s.
That's on the heels of yet another cold weekend, which prompted the City of Toronto to issue yet another extreme cold weather alert, to free up resources for its at-risk homeless population. It was the 35th such alert issued this winter.
It will warm up through the day, and it will be mostly sunny in most communities, but the chill will still be unwelcome ... especially given what the mercury was reading on this day two years ago.
In March 2012, an already unseasonably warm winter reached new levels, with a week-long thaw that saw temperatures reach into the low 20s.
The red numbers in the map above are humidex values ... in March.
Flashing forward back to 2014, southern Ontario is on track for a messy system intensifying on Wednesday morning.
No special weather statements, watches or warnings have yet been issued by Environment Canada, but we're keeping a close watch on that system as it approaches, so check back regularly and tune in on TV for updates.
BEAT THE TRAFFIC: How will your commute be affected? Rely on Beat the Traffic for real-time traffic updates that matter to you. Visit www.beatthetraffic.com and download the app on iTunes or Google Play and get there sooner!
It'll be just another episode in a winter that has worn out its welcome in that province.
In Toronto, for example, Monday marks the 99th consecutive day of 1 cm of snow on the ground, even after last week's above-zero weather.
Even if it doesn't hit 100 days, it will still be a record, surpassing the previous mark of 81 days set in the winter of 1977 to 1978.
BUT SPRING *IS* COMING, RIGHT? Check out The Weather Network's 2014 Spring Outlook for what the coming season will look like.
