Thunder Bay, Ontario, is in for a stretch of warmer and sunnier weather this week after a cloudy start. Environment Canada says no weather alerts are in effect, and temperatures are expected to climb from 21°C on Monday to 24°C by Friday.
As of Monday afternoon, the Thunder Bay Airport recorded mostly cloudy skies and a temperature of 20°C, with east winds gusting to 28 km/h. But the federal weather agency says sunny breaks will start Tuesday, with a high of 22°C, before conditions become fully sunny by Thursday.
Residents planning to spend time outdoors early this week should take sun safety seriously. The UV index is forecast to hit 7, or high, on both Monday and Tuesday. Health officials recommend using SPF 30 or higher sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and staying in the shade between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
There is still a chance of showers mid-week. Tuesday night carries a 40 per cent chance of rain, and Wednesday could see cloudy skies with a 30 per cent chance of showers and a cooler high of 17°C. But the outlook brightens considerably by Thursday and Friday, with sunny skies and highs of 23°C and 24°C respectively. Rain could return over the weekend.
The UV index, a tool now used worldwide, was actually created in Canada. Scientists at Environment Canada developed it in 1992, and the World Health Organization adopted it globally two years later.
