Brockville, Ontario is in for a damp and sticky start to the summer season as rain and high humidity settle over the region this week. Environment Canada reports a mainly cloudy day with a 30 percent chance of showers late this afternoon. The humidex, which combines heat and humidity, was 23 early this afternoon, indicating slight discomfort.
The unsettled weather comes right after the summer solstice on June 21, which marked the longest day of the year with nearly 15 hours and 37 minutes of daylight. The early morning hours of the solstice saw humidity reach 100 per cent with a temperature of 13.9°C. While conditions are expected to remain changeable through the next few days, clearing is on the way.
According to the federal weather agency, sunshine and a high of 27°C are forecast for Wednesday, June 24, before a mix of sun and cloud and a 40 per cent chance of showers arrives Thursday. These temperatures are slightly above the June normals for Brockville, which are a daytime high of 24°C and an overnight low of 14°C. The coming heat won’t last long, as the unsettled pattern is typical for this summer.
Seasonal forecasts from The Weather Network point to an El Niño influence that will bring an on-again, off-again summer with frequent interruptions from rain and thunderstorms. That means Brockville residents can expect more days of muggy weather and sudden showers even as temperatures climb, rather than a long, steady stretch of clear skies. The pattern lines up with what the city normally sees in its humid continental climate, where rain falls throughout the year and summer days are often warm and partly cloudy.
The current soggy spell may be an inconvenience, but it’s not unusual for this part of Eastern Ontario’s Thousand Islands region. As the week goes on, the brief sunny break will be a chance to dry out before the next system moves in.
