A look back at summer weather as Windsor heads into fall
After a dusting of snow in May, the warmer weather finally set in for the Windsor region
From an early drought kicking off summer to a tornado that walloped the city, Windsor had a bit of everything when it came to summer weather.
As residents looked forward to warmer days, Windsor saw half a centimetre of snow fall on May 15. But that dusting marked a turning point for weather, says David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada.
- Windsor's weather has been frighteningly dry
- Expect a warmer-than-normal fall, says Environment Canada
"That almost shocked Mother Nature into providing some warm weather," he said.
Warmer weather showed up for the long weekend in May and continued for the summer, but the lack of rain struck fear into many farmers in the region.
Because Windsor had very little rain fall in April, May and June, the warmer weather meant for some extremely dry months. From mid-May to early July, precipitation was about 28 per cent of normal levels, according to Environment Canada.
"Farmers in southwestern Ontario were very concerned. Then all of a sudden these rescue rains came in July, it was almost as if their prayers had been answered," Phillips said.
Heat waves were common this summer as well. Environment Canada recorded 31 days with the temperature above 30 C during the summer months. Overall temperatures for June, July, August and September were all warmer than normal.
But the drought that marked the first half of summer was over shortly after Canada Day. Environment Canada recorded about eight to 10 per cent more rain than normal for July, August and September.
Then came the tornadoes that touched down in LaSalle and Windsor in late August.
The twisters tore through part of the city, damaging homes, destroying some businesses and wreaking havoc on gas lines and roads.
