34°C: Record-breaking May temperatures reported near frozen lakes
A new benchmark has been set for the Northwest Territories when it comes to May heat
The Northwest Territories shattered significant temperature records on Thursday, with Hay River reaching an unprecedented 34.3°C!
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This becomes the warmest temperature ever documented in the region during the month of May, occurring alongside the shores of a lake that still remains partially frozen.
Yellowknife also set a record, influenced by unique wind patterns. Typically, a southerly wind is what drives the warmer conditions, but the region still managed to see temperatures soar to nearly 28°C, breaking a record from 2015.
With ice still present on the lake, temperatures on the north side of the shoreline stayed 10 to 15°C cooler on Thursday. In contrast, Hay River, situated on the south side, experienced the record-breaking heat.
These conditions underline the distinct impacts of geographic positioning and wind direction during spring thaw periods.