Backwards weather set up brings extreme heat to only parts of Ontario this week
The province can't seem to decide whether it's time to sun bathe or sit inside on a rainy day. A major temperature gradient will slice Ontario for much of this week
Ontario saw its first 30°C of the year, but in a sort of weather shake-up, you have to look north to find the outdoor grilling.
In an unexpected mid-May warm-up, Sunday temperatures rose to 34.1°C in Fort Frances and 31.9°C in Atikokan. The heat is expected to continue bringing 30°C days, while the south stays on the cooler side of seasonal for much of this week.
RELATED: March or May? Duelling season to slice through Atlanic Canada
Summer-like heat hits parts of Ontario
This unusual heat for mid-May is flipping the normal averages for the north and south on their heads. Temperatures around this time of year are normally 19°C in Toronto and 13°C in Moosonee.
A warm front is helping to lift temperatures 10-15°C above normal past Hudson Bay, ushering in numerous 30-degree readings across northwestern Ontario.
To the south, a cut-off low brings in quite the opposite, with near to below seasonal temperatures and rounds of showers spreading across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
On Tuesday, the rain shower threats increase in southwestern Ontario, pushing northward through the afternoon. A rumble of embedded thunder is also possible, though with no severe storm conditions expected. A widespread 5-10 mm of rain is expected.
WATCH: Late-season snow collides with summer-like heat in Manitoba
DON'T MISS: Plant communities in the Arctic are changing along with climate, study finds
The east wind is expected to bring enough cool air to make Burlington’s high just 13°C on Tuesday.
That rain will carry over to Wednesday, where it will continue to cover the south, but push past Toronto, stopping short of making it northwards to Barrie. So if you want to stay dry, you know where to stay.
Will the warmer weather spread south in time for the long weekend?
By Friday, the Lake Ontario breeze will slacken a bit, signalling a trend for temperatures to bounce back closer to seasonal.
On that note, we should head into the long weekend with warm temperatures. However, it looks like we will have an increasing risk for a period of unsettled, wet weather at some point during the weekend, followed by cooler temperatures.
Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across Ontario.