Thunderstorm risk, dark skies linger Mother's Day

Sunday, May 10, 2015, 8:20 AM -

The risk of severe thunderstorms continues Sunday across Southern Ontario, after several warnings and watches were in effect across the region on Saturday.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for London, Innisfil, Milton and surrounding areas Sunday afternoon. Environment Canada warned residents of penny size hail, heavy rain and possible wind gusts of up to 90 km/h. 

With humid air mass, instability, and a cold front, southern Ontario had the right weather conditions for a thunderstorm, Weather Network meteorologist Brett Soderholm said.

The weekend has already brought record heat to the province, as temperatures soared to record-breaking levels.

SEVERAL RECORDS BROKEN

These 10 heat records were broken in Southern Ontario and Quebec Friday:

• St. Catharines hit a high of 31.7°C, replacing the previous record of 30.1°C set in 1979
• Hamilton Airport hit a high of 30.2°C, replacing the previous record of 28.4°C set in 1979
• Collingwood hit a high of 30.6°C, replacing the previous record of 28.5°C set in 2000
• Sarnia hit a high of 30.0°C, replacing the previous record of 27.9°C set in 2007
• Waterloo hit a high of 30.0°C, replacing the previous record of 27.2°C set in 2007
• Windsor hit a high of 29.8°C, replacing the previous record of 29.4°C set in 2000
• London hit a high of 30.1°C, replacing the previous record of 28.5°C set in 1979
• Ottawa hit a high of 30.7°C, replacing the previous record of 30.6°C set in 1939
• North Bay hit a high of 28.6°C, replacing the previous record of 26.1°C set in 1979
• Earlton hit a high of 27.6°C, replacing the previous record of 26.9°C set in 1979 and 2013
• Montreal hit a high of 29.5^oC, replacing the previous record of 28.7^oC set in 2013

The trend of record-breaking heat continued across southern Ontario on Saturday, as the following cities hit their all-time highest temperatures for May 9:

• Bancroft hit a high of 28.1°C, replacing the previous record of 25.8°C set in 2014
• Delhi hit a high of 29.7^oC, replacing the previous record of 28^oC set in 2007
• Erieau hit a high of 24.5^oC, replacing the previous record of 19^oC set in 2001
• Lagoon City hit a high of 27.5^oC, replacing the previous record of 22.4^oC set in 2005
• Long Point hit a high of 26^oC, replacing the previous record of 24.9^oC set in 2000
• Mount Forest hit a high of 28.5^oC, replacing the previous record of 25.1^oC set in 2004
• Toronto Buttonville Airport hit a high of 28.9^oC, replacing the previous record of 28.7^oC set in 1987
• Trenton hit a high of 29.1^oC, replacing the previous record of 28.3^oC set in 1979

While humidex values in the mid-30s were expected this weekend, these levels are below the threshold for a heat warning, Soderholm said. A warning is only issued when temperatures reach 30^oC or more, with humidex values of 40 or more.  

"This is the time to definitely bring out the sun screen. I always get the worst burns in May because I tend to forget that the rays are just as strong now as they are in mid-July," Soderholm said.

With reports from Daksha Rangan and Leeanna McLean