That's More Like It!

24 degrees for a high...now that's more like it. The heat wave finally ended today as a cold front pushed through the region bringing with it some much needed rain. With all of the moist, humid air that was in place Environment Canada was a little concerned about the potential for very heavy rain. A rainfall warning was issued but the rain, although heavy at times, did not amount to a staggering figure. The rain was needed though and did its part in cleaning up the air that had become very polluted over the last few days. The never ending smog advisory was finally lifted today as all of that excess carbon has been flushed from the atmosphere and will most likely be end up as "rain dust" on your car. The most noticeable change associated with this frontal passage will be the "cool down." The thing you have to remember about cold fronts is that the term "cold" is relative. They should be called "relatively cold fronts." Temperatures to the west of that front are still above seasonal but are cooler than the 33 and 34 degree highs we've been subjected to over the last few days. Luckily, how hot it "feels" when you step outside and has more to do with the "dew point temperature" which look to drop in a big way.
















The Dew Point is the temperature you have to lower a parcel of air to for dew to form or for 100% relative humidity to occur. The higher the dewpoint the more humid the air and the hotter it feels. Looking at the map above you can see the difference in dewpoint temperatures between Peterborough and Sudbury. Since the cold front moved through Sudbury well before Peterborough the humidity there was lowered and the dew point temperature was only 13.5 degrees (shortly before 5pm). Peterborough's dew point was an even 21 degrees. Although it was 27 degrees in Sudbury (compared to 23 at that time in Peterborough) it actually felt warmer here in the "Peter Patch." With the humidity it felt 32 here compared with 30 degrees in Sudbury despite the 4 degree difference with the actual temperature. It is the lack of humidity and lower dew point temperatures that we can really look forward to over the weekend...enjoy!