Hottest Halloween Ever: Record-Breaking Heat in Ontario
While Canadians are used to bundling up for Halloween, this year was different as Ontario witnessed record-breaking warmth across several regions. Temperatures soared across the province, prompting beach-like attire instead of costumes layered under jackets. Environment Canada’s preliminary data shows that October 31, 2024, was the hottest Halloween ever recorded in many Ontario communities.
Record Temperatures Hit Ontario
On Halloween, temperatures spiked to unprecedented levels. Moose Creek reached an Ontario high of 24.5°C, located about 65 kilometers east of Ottawa. Other communities that recorded similar highs include Algonquin Park, Cobourg, Kingston, Muskoka, and St. Catharines. At Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, the temperature reached 22.8°C, tying the Halloween record set in 1971 and 1919.
Environment Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder noted that October’s unusual warmth capped off a notably warm month for Ontario. For example, at Pearson Airport, the average daily high for October was 17.3°C, well above the seasonal norm of 14.6°C. This warm spell places October 2024 among the top 10 warmest Octobers on record at Pearson since record-keeping began.
Persistent Warmth Continues into November
Although a cold front is expected to bring more seasonable weather over the weekend, another warm spell is likely to arrive by midweek. Temperatures are forecasted to rise again by Tuesday or Wednesday as a warm air mass moves into southern Ontario. However, this warm spell is expected to be shorter and less intense than the Halloween heat wave.
Looking ahead to November, above-average temperatures are expected to persist in southern and northeastern Ontario. This pattern continues the trend seen in both September and October.
Drier Than Usual October
Along with the heat, October 2024 was noticeably dry across most of Ontario. In southern and northwestern Ontario, rainfall levels fell far below the monthly average. At Pearson Airport, only 29.5 mm of rain fell in October, compared to the usual 67.2 mm. The only region to receive near-normal precipitation was a strip extending from eastern Lake Superior northward to Hudson Bay.
Record-Breaking Halloween: By the Numbers
Environment Canada has confirmed that October 31, 2024, set new maximum temperature records across many regions:
- Algonquin Park: New record of 20.9°C (previous: 18.9°C in 1927)
- Bancroft: New record of 21.5°C (previous: 20°C in 1971)
- Kingston: New record of 20.8°C (previous: 20°C in 1919)
- Ottawa (Kanata – Orleans): New record of 23.7°C (previous: 21.5°C in 1989)
- Trenton: New record of 21.6°C (previous: 20°C in 1956)
- St. Catharines: New record of 23.7°C (previous: 22.8°C in 1971)
Many of these records date back decades, with some, like Toronto’s Halloween record of 21.7°C from 1950, being shattered this week.
What’s Next?
As Ontario moves deeper into November, the weather is expected to fluctuate, with some days returning to near-normal levels before warmer temperatures return. Residents can anticipate a mild fall with fewer early winter chills, making this year’s transition to winter a bit slower than usual.
This unique fall warmth has been a memorable chapter in Ontario’s weather history, with each record marking a significant deviation from typical autumn norms.
References:
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/a-balmy-halloween-for-ontario-quebec-as-october-temperature-records-broken-1.7369212
- https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/10/30/over-70-year-temperature-record-broken-as-toronto-hits-a-high-of-over-23-c-wednesday
- https://www.toronto.com/news/hottest-halloween-ever-for-these-ontario-communities-and-although-it-s-cooling-off-for-weekend/article_94c4342e-3ec5-5d39-98d7-e84d6af41982.html
