Ontario: Humidity peaks ahead of strong storm risk
Eyes on a Thursday thunderstorm threat for southern Ontario
Southern Ontario as spent the first part of the week swathed in near-perfect summer weather, under sunny skies, seasonal temperatures, and only modest humidity. Sticky conditions are on their way back into the region, however, and that may put a damper of the latter half of the week. More on the timing of the next round of showers and thunderstorms, plus a look at the next stretch of hot and humid weather, below.
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WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Warmth, humidity reach peak on Wednesday with humidex values in the mid-to-high 30s
Spotty shower, thunderstorm risk Wednesday
Strong storms expected Thursday as cold front moves through
Latest watches and warnings HERE
WATCH BELOW: STORM ENERGY BUILDS BACK INTO ONTARIO
BUILDING HEAT AND HUMIDITY WEDNESDAY
Wednesday will be the hottest day of the week as temperatures approach the 30°C mark across most of the south with increasing humidity making things feel closer to the high 30s -- enough to be uncomfortable for some, but not as sticky as it was last week.
Still, with that building heat and humidity comes a chance for thunderstorms ahead of a return to widespread storms and showers as a system tracks through the Great Lakes region on Thursday.
Any storms that do erupt Wednesday afternoon will be very scattered in nature; many places won't see any rain at all. The best chance looks to be over cottage country and in eastern Ontario in the late afternoon and evening hours.
STRONG STORMS THREATEN FOR THURSDAY
A system moving through Thursday will make for a more definite precipitation pattern, however, with showers and storms expected to sweep through much of southern and central Ontario through the day.
Multiple rounds of rain are likely Thursday, but the strong to severe storm threat comes with the cold front, which is expected to cut through starting in the mid-to-late afternoon in southwestern Ontario and continuing through the evening hours in the east.
WATCH BELOW: STORM THREAT RETURNS LATE WEEK
SLIGHT STORM RISK LINGERS THROUGH SATURDAY
Sunshine will spread back in on Friday along with lower humidity and near seasonal temperatures ahead of what's shaping up to be another great summer weekend.
"Saturday will be partly sunny, warmer, and more humid with a risk for a shower or thunderstorm during the afternoon and evening," says Weather Network meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham, adding that the humidity eases up a bit by Sunday.
These cooler and more comfortable temperatures will be short-lived once again however, as the third week of July is trending to be "significantly warmer" than originally forecasted.
"Next week is expected to bring several days of building heat and humidity with high temperatures climbing back to at least 30°C and possibly into the lower 30s with the potential for the humidex to reach the upper 30s to near 40," says Gillham.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS FOR HEAVY RAIN IN THE NORTH
While conditions remain dry across southern Ontario through Tuesday, rain showers and thunderstorms have prompted special weather statements for areas in the northwest.
The first round of rain eases off through the morning, but additional rainfall and the risk for thunderstorms are expected to redevelop Tuesday afternoon and evening as a low pressure system slides through. Rain totals will vary across the region with localized heavy downpours, which could bring 50+ mm through Tuesday night.