Windsor’s brief heat wave set another stifling record Monday when the temperature hit 34.9 C.

The previous record for June 18 was 34.5 C, set in 2007, according to Environment Canada. The average temperature for that day is 25.8 C.

It was the second straight day that Windsorites sweated in record high heat.

Environment Canada said the high temperature on Sunday was 34.8 C. The previous record for June 17, set in 1994, was 34.1 C.

The high temperature for Tuesday was 24.4 C, far short of the 34.8 C record set in 1995.

Thunderstorms Wednesday will be followed by extreme heat for the Canada Day long weekend, Environment Canada said Tuesday in a special weather statement.

Showers and thunderstorms were in the forecast for Southwestern Ontario Tuesday night and Wednesday with the heaviest storms expected very early Wednesday morning and through to midday. Total local rainfall amounts could be in the 30-to-50-millimetre range, the alert said.

Hot and humid air from the Gulf of Mexico is then expected to hit Thursday and run through the Canada Day long weekend with daytime highs in the low to mid-30s Celsius with humidex values into the mid-40s, the alert warned. Overnight low temperatures are only expected to drop to the mid-twenties.

Environment Canada said the heat could continue into the middle of next week and will “likely be the most significant heat event of the season thus far.”

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The Windsor forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud Thursday to Saturday with an expected high of 31 C Thursday, 33 C Friday and 37 C Saturday. There is a 30 per cent chance of rain Sunday on Canada Day with a forecast high of 35 C. Rain is also expected Monday with a high of 32 C.

Heat warnings will be issued by Environment Canada closer to the arrival of the hot, humid weather.

shill@postmedia.com

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It’s going to be a hot one this weekend. Here are ten ways to help keep your home cool.

As Glenn Frey once sang, the heat is on — and will stay on for Windsor-Essex until at least Thursday, according to Environment Canada.

What’s being described as “the most significant heat event in the past few years” is expected to continue over the next few days with humidex values forecast to reach 43.

Humidex values from 40 to 45 are described as the range of “great discomfort.” Outdoor exertion is not advised.

Consistent daytime high temperatures exceeding 30 C (86 F) are predicted.

Nighttime low temperatures won’t provide much relief — they’ll stay above 20 C (68 F), except in some rural areas.

But a cold front should pass through on Friday, making conditions more comfortable.

Environment Canada advises that extreme heat affects everyone. All members of the public should watch for signs of heat-related illness, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and worsening pre-existing health conditions.

After a head warning and severe thunderstorm watch Monday, scorching temperatures are expected to continue this week.

By 11 a.m. Monday the temperature was 29 C in Windsor with a humidex of 37. The forecast high for Monday was expected to reach 31C with the humidex of 41.

Tuesday will be mainly sunny with a high of 28. Sunny skies are in the forecast for the rest of the week with a high of 26 C Wednesday, 29 C Thursday and 28 C Friday.

The weekend might bring rain. The forecast so far calls for a 40 per cent chance of rain Saturday and Sunday.

A sailboat on Lake St. Clair heads into Windsor’s shores Monday, July 16, 2018.

Who knew texting buoys would be so popular?

The Great Lakes Observing System, a non-profit buoy data sharing group, found out this week just how popular their text-a-buoy system for getting water and weather information was for boaters, anglers and just the curious.

More than 3,000 people texted a buoy Tuesday after one American article and social media shared the possibility. Usually the system gets about 400 texts a day.

“We literally had to get another phone number because we had such a big, overwhelming response,” Great Lakes Observing System communications manager Kristin Schrader said Wednesday. “I can’t even say how touched we are. We think it’s really important for everybody to have this information.”

On top of potentially saving lives of boaters who are better informed about lake conditions, the buoy data is used by researchers, drinking water system managers, beach managers including identifying rip tides in Lake Michigan, and sport and commercial fishers.

Kristin Schrader

The texting opportunity has been around for years but was considered old-fashioned compared to the group’s mobile-friendly website with more information, she said.

It’s not like the non-profit that is funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and has three employees can use a cute, cuddly animal to swell interest in the bobbing information collectors across the Great Lakes.

“This shows me that buoys are charismatic after all,” Schrader said with a laugh from Ann Arbor, Mich.

A list of all the buoys in the system in the Great Lakes is at glbuoys.glos.us. Text 734-201-0750 with the number of the buoy to get a text back on the latest water and weather conditions. The attention, including this story, prompted the system to add a Canadian line at 705-710-8011.

Schrader said the system continued to be overwhelmed Thursday and wants Canadians to be able to text easily.

For example, text 45147 to the above number to get information back on the system’s one buoy in Lake St. Clair and 45132 if you’re heading east towards Port Burwell on Lake Erie.

There are 16 buoys in Lake Erie. You can only text the ones identified by a number but all of the buoys do have more information online at the Great Lakes Buoy Portal (glbuoys.glos.us).

There’s information on wind speed and direction, water and air temperatures, wave height, and graphs that show the wind speed over the last few days. Some buoys even have a camera so you can watch the lake from a swaying buoy if you won’t get seasick from home.

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The buoys are owned by various government and private organizations and Schrader said the system wants to add more Canadian ones. The buoys cost about $50,000 each and an added $15,000 to $20,000 to operate a year, she said. They have to be removed each winter because of ice but that data interruption could be solved by underwater buoys cabled to the bottom of the lakes, she said.

Each buoy has different instruments. Some ping when fish swim by and some gather data on water quality to monitor algal blooms. Anyone can go to www.glos.us to look up detailed information and learn about research on the Great Lakes or find a page just for boaters.

“It’s really neat. It’s sort of data democracy.”

shill@postmedia.com

twitter.com/winstarhill

A severe thunderstorm warning for Windsor, Essex County and Chatham-Kent has ended but the area remains under a severe thunderstorm watch.

Environment Canada said there continues to be a risk of a severe thunderstorm late Thursday afternoon or early this evening.

The warning was issued at 1:35 p.m. as weather radar showed a strong storm cell heading towards Windsor and Essex County. It was downgraded back to a watch before 5 p.m.

Environment Canada said severe thunderstorm watches are issued when thunderstorms could develop that could produce large hail, damaging winds, or torrential rainfall.

There was a 60 per cent chance of rain in the forecast Thursday.

Friday is expected to bring a high of 25C and a 40 per cent chance of showers. Saturday’s forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 25C.

Then it’s back to rain in the forecast for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

shill@postmedia.com

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Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the region around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Windsor-Essex could see 10 to 20 millimetres of rain overnight.

A low-pressure system will move over Southwestern Ontario, bringing showers with a risk of thunderstorms Tuesday evening and overnight.

The exact location of the heaviest storms is uncertain, since there is significant uncertainty in the track of this system, said the statement. If the low-pressure system moves further east, rainfall amounts of 30 mm or greater are possible.

Areas effected by the statement are Windsor, Leamington, Essex County, Chatham-Kent and Rondeau Park.

tcampbell@postmedia.com

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A concentrated and fierce thunderstorm that hit the Windsor area Monday afternoon left a wide trail of destruction in its wake, with trees and power lines downed and emergency crews scrambling to keep up with a flood of calls for assistance from the public.

“Today’s storm has caused tree damage in many areas throughout the City,” Mayor Drew Dilkens tweeted shortly after the storm hit mid-afternoon. Environment Canada had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the area earlier in the day.

“Please report damage to the Windsor Police non-emergency number at 519-258-6111,” Dilkens tweeted at about 4:20 p.m. “Our forestry crews have been called in and are responding now.”

Trees and branches were reported fallen on streets, houses, vehicles and power lines, causing power outages. Police, fire and utility workers were all in the streets as part of the emergency response.

Dale Bellaire checks out the damage to his 2013 Equinox on Arthur Road on Monday after a storm system ripped through the city. He had just purchased the vehicle three weeks ago.

Essex Powerlines reported “severe wind damage and many fallen trees” across LaSalle. “Essex Power and Enwin crews are on site responding to damage,” including restoring power, the utility company tweeted.

Enwin said that its crews “are working to restore power to all areas impacted … as soon as it is safe to do so. Our top priority is always safety for our customers and our workers.” The city utility advised customers to report emergencies such as downed wires by calling 519-255-2727.

The thunderstorms that hit in the afternoon were forecast by Environment Canada to produce significant rainfall amounts and wind gusts up to 90 km/h and affect the region into the evening and overnight as well. Hail was also a possibility. 

The watch recommended taking cover immediately if threatening weather approached.

Areas impacted by the watch are Windsor, Leamington, Essex County, Chatham-Kent and Rondeau Park.

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Filipe Menezes and his mother-in-law Joan McLean check out the damage to his Windsor property at Ontario Street and Dawson Road after a huge tree snapped during Monday’s storm.

A resident on George Avenue speaks to a Windsor firefighter after the storm caused a large tree to puncture his roof on Monday.

Aptly named, members of the Tecumseh Thunder baseball team are shown at the Cullen Stadium field at Mic Mac Park on Monday as threatening storm clouds began rolling in just ahead of the area being walloped by powerful winds and a torrential downpour.

A man checks out a large damaged tree at Ontario Street and Dawson Road on Monday.

Windsor firefighters check out the damage to a home and hydro wires on Totten Street in Windsor after an afternoon storm ripped through the city on Monday.

A heat warning in Windsor and Essex County is expected to last through Wednesday.

Environment Canada forecast maximum temperatures of 31 C through Wednesday, with overnight temperatures remaining above 21 C. A cold front anticipated to move through the region midweek will bring cooler conditions Thursday.

Those most at risk for heat-related illnesses are young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.

The warning reminds everyone not to leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle.

tcampbell@postmedia.com

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A fire started by a lightning strike has left a LaSalle family homeless.

Lightning struck a ranch-style home on Skinner Street Saturday, starting a fire in the attic area. Firefighters believed they had the blaze under control, but hotspots re-ignited overnight and they had to return, neighbour Paul Bresolin said Monday.

“When it triggered again, it did more damage, worse damage,” Bresolin said.

The home remained cordoned off with tape Monday. Bresolin said the home sustained extensive damage including fallen ceilings due to water damage.

A storm that blew through the area Saturday about 5 p.m. brought with it a heavy downpour, thunder and lightning. “The next thing we knew, we heard this big clap and it sounded very close,” Bresolin said. He said, through the rain, he could see smoke coming from the vent in roof of the house next door. He said soon thereafter came flames.

Bresolin said his neighbours were not home at the time of the fire.

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Ahead of a possible large overnight rainfall forecast by Environment Canada, strong, persistent winds were already triggering flooding Sunday morning along Leamington’s eastern shoreline.

The Essex Region Conservation Authority issued a flood watch for much of the region and a flood warning for the Leamington area early Sunday that was to remain in effect until 10 a.m. Monday.

Environment Canada issued its own special weather statement Sunday morning advising that the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon could dump between 30 to 40 mm of rain on the Windsor-Essex region over the next 24 hours.

“Due to forecasted winds out of the east/northeast with sustained speeds of 25 km and with gusts up to 50 km, flooding is occurring on the east shoreline of the municipality of Leamington,” ERCA’s advisory stated. “In addition, damaging waves, splash and wave overtopping is occurring within this area and the north and east shoreline areas of Pelee Island.”

Due to persistent east/northeast winds, ERCA stated that water levels in the western basin of Lake Erie had been significantly elevated in addition to levels within the Detroit River and the western reaches of Lake St. Clair.

ERCA warned that heightened wave levels could affect the shoreline in Kingsville, Essex, Amherstburg and Pelee Island, Lakeshore, Tecumseh and the eastern edge of Windsor.

“Ongoing wave activity has the possibility to damage breakwalls that are damaged or unmaintained,” ERCA warned.

mcaton@postmedia.com

Flooding in the basement of the Downtown Mission during Thursday’s torrential downpour caused about $75,000 worth of damage.

Executive director Ron Dunn said flooding at 875 Ouellette Ave. initially caused concern that the mission would have to temporarily close its 103-bed Sanctuary Program.

“The water force was so great that it was actually pushing water up, bubbling up through the cement, like in between the tiles on the floor, through the wall systems,” said Dunn. “It made quite a mess.”

Dunn said there was about six inches of water over 6,000 square feet of the basement.

Staff, maintenance crews, and volunteers started furiously lifting things off the floor after finding the flood Thursday morning.

“It actually looked like we were getting ahead of it until the rain really came down,” said Dunn. “The city system could not handle that much water at one time. So it was pushed to the lowest point, which unfortunately in this case was us.”

He said the preliminary damage estimate Wednesday was between $50,000 and $75,000, including spoiled food and other supplies. The elevator pit was also filled with water.

Dunn said that created problems because the Sanctuary shelter is on the building’s fourth floor. He said an average of 80 people stay there each night.

Ron Dunn, CEO of the Downtown Mission, speaks at a press conference in this 2017 file photo.

Anyone who can climb the stairs would be able to sleep there. But Dunn said there are about 25 people who can’t climb the stairs. Other city-funded shelters, which are at capacity, offered to take in some extra people.

The mission was also planning to set up mats in the hallway of the main floor for people who can’t handle the stairs.

“It’s certainly better than being outside,” said Dunn. “Not quite as great as a bed upstairs.”

The four-storey former office building was purchased by the Mission in 2016 for $950,000. The Downtown Mission’s headquarters remains at a former church on Victoria Avenue, but plans are afoot to move the headquarters from the church to the current Windsor Public Library central branch, across the street from its Sanctuary building.

Just in case you needed a reminder that Windsor is part of Canada and we’re in the middle of November — That white stuff on the road? Yeah, that’s snow.

The region had its first real flurry of the season on Thursday, with approximately two centimetres of snowfall by the middle of the day, according to Environment Canada.

We live in a fantastic geographical region — We have all four seasons

Truth is, local drivers should have been ready for it, according to Windsor Police Service. Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Betteridge said Windsor police have been consistent about its message on social media: See snow, go slow.

“A simple slogan,” Betteridge said on Thursday. “It’s a reminder to slow down and drive for the weather conditions.”

Even for those with decades of driving experience, this time of year “can catch people off-guard with how slippery wet snow and ice can be,” Betteridge said.

From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Windsor police responded to at least four motor vehicle collisions in their jurisdiction. But, prior to the evening commute hours, Betteridge said Windsor police had yet to see a serious incident related to winter driving.

“We live in a fantastic geographical region — we have all four seasons,” Betteridge said. “We forget that we can’t drive the same way in the dead of winter that we do in July and August.”

Along with decreasing speed, another easy winter driving habit advised by Betteridge is incorporating more stopping distance.

Snow covered jack-o’-lanterns sit on a curb on St. Rose Avenue in Windsor on Thursday, November 15, 2018 signalling the unofficial arrival of winter.

Even before you got behind the wheel, you should have made some adjustments: Common sense things like completely clearing your windows of snow and keeping a snow brush and scraper in your vehicle, Betteridge said.

“Driving is a privilege in our country, and we need to respect that,” Betteridge said. “We need to be responsible drivers for all four seasons.”

dchen@postmedia.com

With a flood advisory already in effect, the City of Windsor is asking residents to keep an eye out for clogged catch basins after the region was hit with a combination of heavy snow and freezing rain.

The city said plows are still out clearing and salting roads to open plugged catch basins, but help from the public would also be nice.

“Significant snowfall on Saturday mixed with freezing rain last night and rain today has created some messy conditions,” Dwayne Dawson, executive director of operations, said Wednesday. “We’re keeping an eye out for catch basins to ensure they can take in the water as it thaws, but if residents living near a catch basin can also check to see that it’s clear, that would be helpful. Blocked catch basins can lead to localized surface flooding.”

The Essex Region Conservation Authority also issued a warning this week that flooding is possible.

ERCA said existing snow cover, recent freezing rain and forecasts for additional snowfall present a danger of flooding across the region as temperatures rise above freezing on Wednesday.

Temperatures are expected to dip below freezing around midnight making conditions icy once again.

Environment Canada said Wednesday a thaw has begun, and another 15 mm to 25 mm of rain is likely by this evening.

“That runoff generated from the combination of precipitation and thawing has the potential to cause flooding throughout the entire region,” said ERCA. “Areas of particular concern include all low-lying areas, drainage catch basins, and other surface water drainage inlets.”

The City of Windsor said residents can call 311 if they see a basin that is not working properly.

“Motorists are also asked to be aware of large pools of water on roadways, both for safety reasons and to avoid splashing pedestrians on the sidewalks,” the city said. “Residents should also make sure drainage on their property is clear including downspouts, eaves troughs and yard drains to help protect against flooding.”

Environment Canada said strong wind gusts of 70 to 80 km/h were expected in the afternoon with cold air moving back in Wednesday night, bringing the short-lived thaw to an end.

The city warned the return to freezing temperatures could make things treacherous after all the rain.

A snow plow removes melting snow and applies salt on Lens Avenue on Jan. 23, 2019.

“Temperatures are expected to dip below freezing around midnight making conditions icy once again,” the city said. “Crews will continue salting roadways, but ice can still form quickly, and conditions can alter in unpredictable ways, so motorists are asked to use extra caution and leave plenty of room for safe stops and starts where ice may be present.”

The conservation authority also warned people to avoid rivers, lakes, ditches, streams, and ponds.

Runoff flowing through the waterways “has a high probability of causing ice surfaces to break up and start to flow,” according to ERCA. Also, flowing ice can create blockages at bridges and culverts, resulting in flooding of low-lying areas.

“Any remaining ice cover on the waterways will be unstable and dangerous,” said ERCA. “A combination of slippery banks, moving/melting ice and cold water is particularly dangerous.”

twilhelm@postmedia.com

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Maybe the snowfall, icy surfaces, and poor driving conditions just aren’t enough. Maybe you’re standing there in flip-flops with a dumb look on your face, saying to yourself, “Duh, it just doesn’t feel like winter in Windsor-Essex.”

Good news! The forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday involves temperatures so cold they could break records set 50 years ago.

As of Monday afternoon, Environment Canada’s weather office is predicting thermometers in Windsor-Essex to drop to a low of -20 C on Tuesday night, and a low of -23 C on Wednesday night.

According to historical weather data, the coldest Jan. 29 in Windsor on record was in 1963, when the low was -20.6 C.

The coldest Jan. 30 in Windsor on record was in 1951, which also had a low of -20.6 C.

The average low for this time of year is -8.3 C.

Just five years ago, in 2013, Windsor set records in the opposite direction: We enjoyed the area’s warmest Jan. 29 and 30 ever, with highs of 14.5 C and 15.6 C.

Traffic is slow going at Wyandotte Street East and Parent Avenue as a snowstorm blankets the region on Jan. 28, 2019.

Gimme Shelter

Hypothermia and frostbite are real risks for humans outdoors in truly sub-zero conditions like the kind the region is enduring now.

The City of Windsor reminds the public that there are emergency shelters in the community open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Downtown Mission (664 Victoria Ave.) offers a place to stay for men, women, and families. The Salvation Army (355 Church St.) houses men, and the Welcome Centre Shelter (263 Bridge Ave.) is available for women and families.

Trevor Zanutto skates with the puck at Lakewood Park where he was playing pond hockey with friends Nick Larose, Jaxon Turnbull and Cooper Turnbull, right. The boys were enjoying a ‘snow day’ off from school.

All these flavours and you chose to be salty

Did you know that road salt loses its effectiveness at ambient temperatures below -13 C?

Sodium chloride — otherwise known as salt — works as a de-icer by creating brine, which prevents snow and ice from bonding with pavement.

However, the process needs moisture to work. When it gets too cold, there’s not enough moisture to start the melting.

Calcium chloride in liquid form can be mixed with salt to jumpstart the melting process, but it increases the cost and the mixture becomes very detrimental to certain types of road surfaces.

Tom Lucier, owner of Phog Lounge, is pictured behind the bar with a pint of beer on Jan. 28, 2019.

Enjoy the phreeze at Phog

One downtown Windsor bar is using the cold snap as an advertising opportunity: Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West) hopes to attract customers on Wednesday and Thursday by offering discounts equal to the frigid temperatures.

For all bills on Jan. 30 and 31, Phog Lounge will take off a percentage equivalent to the thermometer reading as reported by Environment Canada (before wind chill) at time of sale.

Example: If it’s -17 C, you’ll get 17 per cent off your bill. The colder it gets, the more you’ll save!

The discount applies to all beverages and Phog Lounge’s patented poutine dishes.

Netflix and chill

Who would enjoy such inhospitable weather in Windsor-Essex? Perhaps local students, who got to stay home on Monday.

All school boards cancelled their buses on Monday morning due to the snowy forecast, and both the University of Windsor and St. Clair College cancelled their Monday evening classes.

With all labs, continuing education sessions, apprenticeship programs, and even swimming and yoga classes unavailable, students had little else to do but stay home and study… or snuggle.

Maybe the home enjoyment idea could apply in parts of the county, as well, given Kingsville cancelled its Monday night council meeting and Lakeshore cancelled programs at the Atlas Tube Centre.

dchen@postmedia.com

Related

• Winter is coming — cold, snow on the way for Windsor-Essex region
• Bitter cold follows local area's first snowy taste of winter
• Environment Canada issues alert, forecasting 'significant' snow

An SUV is towed away while a car lies in the ditch after the two collided on Howard Ave., south of Concession Rd. 8, Monday, January 28, 2019.

Tom Lucier, owner of Phog Lounge, pours a pint of beer behind the bar, Monday, January 28, 2019.

Tom Lucier, owner of Phog Lounge, is pictured behind the bar with a pint of beer, Monday, January 28, 2019.

January 28, 2019 – Postie Anne-Marie Hudak delivers the mail on Avondale Avenue in South Windsor during a heavy snowfall Monday. Hudak says she’s outfitted well and had no issues with the snowy conditions.

Two people clear snow from the sidewalks on Hall Ave., as a snowstorm blankets the region, Monday, January 28, 2019.

Trevor Zanutto, 11, celebrates a goal at Lakewood Park where he was playing pond hockey with friends Nick Larose, 11, left, Cooper Turnbull, 7, and Jaxon Turnbull, 11, right. The boys were enjoying a ‘snow day’ off from school and Aunt Michelle Dobrin (not shown) came along to help out with the shovelling.

A.M. – P.M. Towing operator Matt Brookes hooks a Volkswagen Jetta following a collision on Crawford Avenue near Tecumseh Road West during the afternoon snowfall Monday. Windsor Police also responded to the scene.

Good Samaritans Owen Cote, 17, left, Nathan Redmond, 14, and Nicolas Redmond, 16, right, spent their Monday afternoon shovelling snow for businesses and homeowners on Lesperance Road near Tecumseh Fire Hall. The young men shovelled snow to keep busy on a ‘snow day’ off from school.

A salt truck heads east on E.C. Row Expressay near Dominion Boulevard during Monday’s snow event.

School buses parked during Monday’s snow event. These buses belong to Stevenson Transport on County Road 42.