Heat Wave in Windsor-Essex Approaches Historic Levels

An orange heat warning remains in place for Windsor-Essex, with temperatures potentially hitting levels not seen since the 1800s.

“It’s continuing to be very, very hot, humid and that’s why we have the orange heat warning in effect primarily because of the duration,” Peter Kimbell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, said Thursday.

“Today we’re looking for a high of 36, which is pretty close to the record high of 36.1 today in 1872… we’re very close to setting a record for today.”

Kimbell noted that temperatures reached 36 C on Canada Day when the previous record for that day was 36.7 set back in 1898. He mentioned that Friday might see highs around 35 C when the record of 37.8 C was recorded in 1898.

Peter Kimbell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, says Windsor is “very close to setting a record” for Thursday’s temperature. Thursday could bring daytime high of 36 C, which is pretty close to the record high of 36.1 C for the same day in 1872. (CBC)

He explained that while residents are used to temperatures around 30 C, those exceeding 35 C are rare as records usually sit above 37 C.

This extreme heat has led many people to rush out and buy fans and air conditioning units.

“It’s been very hot,” Debbie Hebert, manager at Seminole Home Hardware, said

“We’ve sold a lot of fans, a lot of air conditioners to try to keep everybody cool… It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen heat at these levels.”

Debbie Hebert, manager at Seminole Home Hardware in Windsor, says people have been consistently coming in this week looking to buy fans and air conditioning units to beat the heat. (Pratyush Dayal/CBC)

She mentioned that portable AC units have been especially popular as many homes lack central air or only have it in one room. She added that pedestal fans are also flying off the shelves.

Hebert shared that customers are continuously searching for ways to stay cool; sprinklers and hoses for keeping gardens refreshed are also on their shopping list.

“People have pools open, so with the heat, the chlorine burns off. So we’ve been selling a lot of chlorine.”

She noted some items are sold out but they expect another truckload of inventory on Friday.

Dan Wilson and Liz Foley remarked that after living in West Windsor for fifteen years, this is their first experience with such intense heat.

“We’ve been pretty warm but not to this amount,” he said.

Dan Wilson and Liz Foley say in their 15 years of staying in West Windsor, this is the first severe heat wave they have witnessed. They say it’s so hot that even their AC is struggling to keep up. (Pratyush Dayal/CBC)

The couple enjoyed drinks outside Thursday afternoon while their granddaughter played in an inflatable pool nearby. They expressed how extreme the weather has become for their AC system.

“With this heat, AC doesn’t keep up,” he said. “It’s crazy… imagine what people do without air conditioning? I don’t know.”

The couple prefers sitting under shade trying to catch any breeze available; Foley mentioned she likes joining her granddaughter in the pool as a way to cool down from all this warmth.

“Try to stay as cool as possible. And if that doesn’t work, put some water on your head,” Foley said.

Kimbell stated that this “hot muggy weather” should persist into the weekend along with potential thunderstorms from Thursday afternoon onward until then. He advises residents take care when it comes to vulnerable groups like seniors, children and those experiencing homelessness.

WATCH | Windsor’s unhoused struggle to find relief in prolonged heat wave:

Homeless people in Windsor struggling to beat the heat

With Windsor-Essex under an orange level heat warning, one man is handing out freezies to help friends stay cool.

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