Late-summer heat breaks P.E.I. temperature records

Temperatures climbing more than 10 C above normal broke daily temperature records in Charlottetown and Summerside this week.

The hottest temperature recorded in the two cities was Tuesday in Summerside, when the thermometer reached 29 C.

"Over the last few days, a ridge of high pressure and a warm southwesterly wind have helped temperatures soar well above the seasonal average for mid-September," said CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland.

Both Charlottetown and Summerside broke two daily records.

Summerside's 29 C on Tuesday was 12.2 C above normal for Sept. 17. On Monday the thermometer hit a record 27.3 C, 9.4 C above normal. Wednesday appears, at this point, to have fallen short of a record. Hourly temperature recordings show a peak of 27.6 C, just below the 27.9 C record set in 2015.

Charlottetown broke its temperature records on Tuesday and Wednesday, with 27.1 C on and 27.9 C, respectively. Monday's 25.8 C, while 7.8 C above normal, was short of the 27.2 C record set in 1971.

The record-breaking heat is done for now, said Scotland.

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"A shift to cooler north-northeasterly winds will see temperatures ease down over the next few days, with more typical conditions in place this weekend for fall's official arrival on Sunday," he said.

At 23 C, Thursday's forecast is still about 5 C above average, but temperatures are expected to continue to cool over the weekend and settle in closer to seasonal averages next week.