November 2024 Summary

Another warm month that was the driest November in over 10 years

There were a few very warm days early in the month with one day even over 20°C, while the rest of the month was just a little above average.  This put the overall temperature at 1.8 degrees above average.

Of the past 12 months all have been warmer than average, with the exception of August that was just slightly below average.  These are now the 12 warmest consecutive months in the history of the region where records go back to 1914, surpassing July 2011 to June 2012.  It is now virtually guaranteed that 2024 will go down as the warmest year on record in the region.   

It was yet another dry month with only 44.8 mm of precipitation falling, making it the driest November since 2012.  The total precipitation for the year of 695.4 mm is now even further below the average of 832.9 mm.  

Also, we have start reporting snowfall as we had our first measurable snow on the 28th with the total for the month coming in at 2 cm, well below the average of 11 cm.  

Summary for November 2024:

Maximum Temperature 21.2°C

Minimum Temperature -6.5°C

Average Daily High Temperature 8.9°C (Long term average 7.2°C)

Average Daily Low Temperature 1.1°C (Long term average -0.8°C)

Total Precipitation 44.8 mm (Long term average 71.9 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2023 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

October 2024 Summary

A warm and very dry October

A lot of interesting things about the temperature this month. The overall picture has the average temperature 1.2 degrees above average, but it has been warmer than that in 4 of the last 10 years.  However, it may have seemed a lot warmer, as the average of the daily high temperatures were over 3 degrees above average, which is the second warmest in the last 10 years.  

On the other end, the daily low temperatures were 0.7 degrees below average.  The reason for this difference were the relatively clear skies which resulted in warm sunny days, but cooler clear nights.

Lastly, a warm streak in the last part of the month was what really drove up the monthly temperature numbers.  The high temperatures on Oct 21 and 22 were 25°C, the only time we have seen a temperature that high that late in October was way back in 1947.

Another consequence of the clear skies was the lack of precipitation, in fact if we didn’t get a storm a few days before the end of the month it would have been the driest October on record.  That last rainfall put the total precipitation at 29.8 mm, well below the average of 81.0 mm and the direst in over 20 years.

The total precipitation for both September and October was 51.4 mm, this was the second driest total for these months in the region where records go back to 1914.  The total this year was just a bit above the record driest of 49.5 mm in 1963.

These dry two months have now put the total for the year of 650.6 mm well below the 750.6 mm average.

Summary for October 2024:

Maximum Temperature 26.0°C
Minimum Temperature -2.8°C
Average Daily High Temperature 17.3°C (Long term average 14.2°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 3.9°C (Long term average 4.6°C)
Total Precipitation 29.8 mm (Long term average 81.0 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2023 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

September 2024 Summary

Another hot and dry September

With a streak of temperatures which lasted almost 2 weeks that were over 5 degrees above average, it is not surprising that overall it was one and half degrees above average.  This made it the warmest September since 2018 and with 8 of 9 months above average so far in 2024, we could be looking at the hottest calendar year on record.

That hot streak also coincided with a really dry spell, resulting in only 2.0 mm in the first 22 days of the month.  A couple of storms in the last week boosted the total precipitation to 21.6 mm, making it the sixth driest September in the region since records began back in 1914.  This continues a streak of dry Septembers as each of the last three have been in the top 8 driest.

This dry month means that the total precipitation for this time of year of 620.8 mm has now fallen even further below the average of 683.5 mm.

Summary for September 2024:

Maximum Temperature 29.1°C
Minimum Temperature 5.3°C
Average Daily High Temperature 24.4°C (Long term average 22.0°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 10.9°C (Long term average 10.3°C)
Total Precipitation 21.6 mm (Long term average 75.6 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2023 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

August 2024 Summary

A dry month with very average temperature

There were some warmer days and some cooler days during August, but nothing too extreme on either end.  This resulted in an overall temperature that was almost exactly average (just 0.1 degrees below average).  This means that we have now had 12 months in a row without one in the below average range. 

With a lot of media coverage of wet conditions in southern Ontario, it may be surprising that our 52.4 mm was below the average of 66.5 mm.  But the nature of summer precipitation means that it can be raining in one area and dry on the next block.  The total precipitation so far in 2024 is 599.2 mm, this is very close the average of 596.0 mm.  

As we are now past meteorological summer (June-July-August) we can say it was a warm and wet summer.  The temperature was almost one degree above average, which is not exceptionally hot and the 263.8 mm of precipitation was high compared to the average of 214.8 mm again, but we have seen many wetter summers in the past.

Summary for August 2024:
Maximum Temperature 32.4°C
Minimum Temperature 7.3°C
Average Daily High Temperature 25.9°C (Long term average 25.6°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 13.7°C (Long term average 14.2°C)
Total Precipitation 52.4 mm (Long term average 66.5 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2023 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

July 2024 Summary

A wet July with average temperatures

With no extremely hot days and only a couple of cool days, the average temperature for the month of July was 0.7 degrees higher than average, this still puts it within the average range.  Apart from being the warmest July since 2020, not much else to say.

Some months have consistent rain, but that was not the case this time.  Two really wet days (56.4 mm on the 10th and 32.6 mm on the 16th) accounted for most of the 133.0 mm total for July.  In fact, the 56.4 mm on the 10th was the wettest single day since August 29, 2021 when we saw 67.8 mm and the wettest single day for July since 59.3 mm that fell on July 7, 2014.

This wet month put the total for the year of 546.8 mm above the average of 502.4 mm.

Summary for July 2024:
Maximum Temperature 31.6°C
Minimum Temperature 8.8°C
Average Daily High Temperature 27.7°C (Long term average 26.5°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 15.0°C (Long term average 14.8°C)
Total Precipitation 133.0 mm (Long term average 78.2 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2023 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

June 2024 Summary

June was another hot month along with average precipitation

With that extremely hot stretch of 6 days and just a few colder than average days, it is not surprising that overall June was a little more than a degree above average.  Interestingly in the just over 25 years of data at the Soulis memorial weather station, the month of June has not been that extremely warm, so this June was only the third highest.  Also, we have now had 7 months in a row with warmer than average temperatures.

It was a very consistent month for precipitation with storms coming through every few days and no particularly really wet days (ie. none above 20 mm).  The total precipitation was 78.4 mm which is above the average of 70.1 mm, but still within the average range.

With most of the months so far this year being pretty close to average precipitation, the total precipitation we have seen in the first half of the year of 413.8 mm is only a little below the average total of 424.3 mm.

 

Summary for June 2024:

Maximum Temperature 33.9°C
Minimum Temperature 7.9°C
Average Daily High Temperature 25.3°C (Long term average 24.1°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 13.7°C (Long term average 12.6°C)
Total Precipitation 78.4 mm (Long term average 70.1 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2022 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

May 2024 Summary

A warm May with average precipitation 

With only a few below average days during the month, the overall temperature ended up being almost 2 and half degrees above average.  This is now the sixth month in a row with above average temperatures and the warmest May since 2018.  

The lowest temperature we saw during the month was 3.0°C, which was only matched back in 1975 as the highest low temperature for May.  As well, it now looks like April 26 will be the last day it went below zero this spring, this is tied with 2013 as the earliest last freezing day in the history of Soulis weather station. 

The precipitation for the month was well distributed with no particularly wet days or long dry periods.  The total of 80.3 mm was just a bit more than the average of 73.8 mm, keeping it within the average range.  So far the total for the year is 335.4 mm, which is incredibly close to the average of 340.2 mm.

Summary for May 2024:

Maximum Temperature 30.3°C
Minimum Temperature 3.0°C
Average Daily High Temperature 21.8°C (Long term average 19.1°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 9.2°C (Long term average 7.3°C)
Total Precipitation 80.8 mm (Long term average 73.8 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2022 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

April 2024 Summary

A warm April with no snowfall

The month of April had temperatures that were mostly average or above average, with a lot of the warmer days coming during the first half of the month. There were a few colder days in the last week, but the overall temperature was still almost two degrees above average. We have now had 5 months in a row that were warmer than average.

A couple of stormy days in the middle of the month pushed the total precipitation for April up to 89.0 mm, which is a little above the average of 82.3 mm. The total for the year is now 254.6 mm, which is below the 280.3 mm we would expect by this time of the year.

We didn’t get any measurable snowfall during April, something that happens around every 5 years or so in our area. The total snowfall of 71.0 cm for the season was less than half the average of 159.7 cm. Keeping in mind that we only have reliable daily snow measurements going back to 2001-2002, this was the lowest amount of total snowfall during that period.

Summary for April 2024:

Maximum Temperature 23.0°C
Minimum Temperature -3.2°C
Average Daily High Temperature 13.2°C (Long term average 11.5°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 2.9°C (Long term average 0.70°C)
Total Precipitation 89.0 mm (Long term average 82.3 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2022 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

March 2024 Summary

A very warm and wet March with low snowfall

Practically the entire first half of March was anywhere between 10 to 15 degrees above average.  This was followed by something we haven’t seen in a few months: an extended period of colder than average temperatures.  Overall, the average temperature was over 3 degrees warmer than average, making it the seventh warmest March in the history of records in the region that go back to 1914.

During those first warm days of the month the annual weather station contest ended at 2:30 pm on the 4^th when the temperature first hit 20°C (this was the earliest 20°C in the history of the region). Congratulations to Michael Greaves who guessed the exact correct time.

A couple of big storms (over 20 mm) came through on the 9^th and 14^th which helped propel the total for the month to 71.6 mm.  This is above the average of 63.4 mm and high enough to be in the above average range.

Even though there was high total precipitation, with the warm temperatures most of it fell as rain.  In fact, the amount of snowfall for March of 11.5 cm was less than half the 26.5 cm of snow that we get on average.  The puts the total for the snowfall season at 71.0 cm, also less than half the average of a typical season of 159.7 cm.

Summary for March 2024:

Maximum Temperature 20.6°C
Minimum Temperature -11.3°C
Average Daily High Temperature 7.5°C (Long term average 4.2°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature -2.1°C (Long term average -5.5°C)
Total Precipitation 71.6 mm (Long term average 63.6 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2022 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

February 2024 Summary

The second warmest February on record

With temperatures that ranged from average to well above average, it is not surprising that the overall temperature was close to 5 degrees above average.  This made it the second warmest February in the history of weather records in the region (which go back to 1914) and just a bit less than the record warmest in 2017.

Looking at the meteorological winter (December-January-February), the average temperature was -1.8°C.  This was the third warmest winter only behind 2001-02 and 1931-32.

Even some wet days in the final few days of the month could only bring the total precipitation to about a third of the average (21.6 mm total compared to the average of 63.5 mm).  This was the driest February since 1987.

With the warm temperatures and lack of overall precipitation, it follows that the total snowfall of only 13 cm was well below the average of 30.3 cm for February.  Overall, we have had 59.5 cm during this snowfall season, less than half the average of 125.6 cm for this point in the season.  As well, the gloominess index of 5.9 (on a scale of 10) was just a bit less than the average of 5.7 and much less than the value of 8.3 from last month.

It is also that time of year for the annual Weather Station Contest where you have to guess when the first time the station’s temperature will go above 20°C.  You can get details about the contest and put in your guess here:  https://weather.uwaterloo.ca/2024_contest/contest_entry_period_2024.asp 

Summary for February 2024:

Maximum Temperature 14.1°C
Minimum Temperature -13.0°C
Average Daily High Temperature 3.8°C (Long term average -1.3°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature -6.3°C (Long term average -10.8°C)
Total Precipitation 21.6 mm (Long term average 63.5 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2022 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

January 2024 Summary

A gloomy and warm January with average precipitation

Apart from the usual information, this summary also sees the introduction of first version of the Soulis Memorial Weather Station gloominess index!  Each day is given a number from 1 to 10 depending on the maximum amount of sun for that day, the gloomier the day the higher the number.  Then the average for the month is then calculated.  

For January the average was 8.3 (out of 10), this compares to the 1999-2023 average of 7.1 (it has ranged between 6.5 in 2013 to 8.5 last year).  This was the second highest gloominess index in the history of the station, so it wasn’t just your imagination, there wasn’t a lot of sun last month.

Even though we had that one cold week in the middle of the month, it didn’t make up for the warmer than average temperatures the rest of the month, particularly near the end.  In fact, the low temperatures in the last week never went below the average high temperatures for those days.  With all that it is not surprising that the overall temperature was almost 3 degrees higher than average.

The total precipitation of 72.4 mm was just a little above the average of 70.9 mm.  But even with the warm temperatures, we still got 36.5 cm of snow in January, not that far off of the average of 43.7 cm.  Overall for the snowfall season we have had 46.5 cm, less than half the average of 95.3 cm for this point in the season.

Summary for January 2024:

Maximum Temperature 7.3°C
Minimum Temperature -19.5°C
Average Daily High Temperature -1.0°C (Long term average -2.4°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature -6.2°C (Long term average -10.6°C)
Total Precipitation 72.4 mm (Long term average 70.9 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2022 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)

2023 Annual Summary

 E.D. Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo Annual Summary - 2023

The big story of 2023 was the heat throughout the year with only one month of below average temperatures.  Although globally 2023 was the warmest year on record, in the region it was the fourth warmest year in the history of weather records in the region which go back over 100 years.  The top four warmest years locally are: 2012 with an average temperature of 9.32°C, 1998 at 8.98°C, 2021 at 8.89°C, and now 2023 coming in at 8.86°C.

The year started off very warm with the January coming in as the fourth warmest and February the sixth warmest.  March was then close to average, before another warm month in April.  That month the temperature reached 26.0°C or more for 5 straight days, this was the first streak that long during April.  Also, with a temperature of 28.1°C on April 13, it was the earliest in the year that the temperature has gone above 28°C (previously it was April 22).  With all that it isn’t surprising that it was the third warmest April in the region.

The last below zero temperature occurred on May 18th, this was 12 days later than the average in the last 25 years and the second latest during that time.  The month of May started a three month streak of temperatures that were close to average.

August had an overall temperature that was 1.3 degrees below average, this was the only month that was below average during the year and the coolest August since 2008.  Then in September we saw the first warmer than average month since April the warmest September in the last 5 years. There were 3 days above 30°C where we usually only see one of those every couple of years in September.  Finally, the 32.0°C that occurred on the fifth was the warmest temperature for the entire year.

There was a very hot streak the first week of October with 3 days close to 30°C, that contributed to the overall temperature being a little over a degree and half above average, that made it the fourth warmest October in the region.  A little after midnight on the 23rd, the temperature went below zero for the first time since May 18th, which is about 10 days later than the average.  With the frost-free period from May 18 to Oct 23, the frost-free season lasted 158 days, which is very close to the average of 160 days.

November dipped a bit below average followed by the second warmest December on record at 4 degrees above average.  The low temperature for the month of -6.9°C on the 13th, this was the highest for December in the history of records in the region.

Looking at precipitation, the year started out very wet between January and April, this included February which was the most above average of any month since October 2021.  There was one particularly wet day on the ninth when there was 35.6 cm of precipitation (the fourth wettest single day in February).  While March was the second wettest in the last 10 years.

May then broke the trend with only about half the average for the month ending with 11 days of no precipitation.  Things turned around again in July which was the wettest since 2014 and in the top 10 in the history of weather records in the region.  

September was very dry, the 18.0 mm of precipitation made it the 4th driest on record and the direst since 1969.  The rest of the fall was close to average, resulting in a total for the year of 958.8 mm, above the average of 869.6 mm, but still within the average range.

The total snowfall for the 2022-23 season was a total of 119.5 cm, which was well below the average of 159.7 cm.  The first few months of the next snowfall season has started slowly with only 10 cm total in November and December compared to the average of 26 cm by the end of the year.

Frank Seglenieks

weather@uwaterloo.ca

E.D. Soulis Memorial Weather Station Coordinator

 

Summary for 2023 (averages from 1998-2022 data for Soulis Memorial Weather Station):

Average Daily High Temperature: 13.81°C (average 12.62ºC)

Average Daily Low Temperature: 3.92°C  (average 2.59ºC)

Total Precipitation: 958.8 mm (average 869.6 mm) 

Extremes for 2023 (all time Soulis Memorial Weather Station extreme in brackets):

Highest temperature:

32.0°C Sep 5 3:15 pm (35.7 °C July 21, 2011 3:00 pm)

Highest humidex:

41.4 Sep 5 3:15 pm (47.6 July 17, 2013 5:00 pm)

Lowest temperature:

-19.7°C Feb 3 7:45 am (-35.5 °C Feb 16, 2015 7:00 am)

Lowest windchill:

-35.4 Feb 3 11:00 am (-47.3 Feb 15, 2015 6:15 am)

Greatest temperature drop in 15 minutes:

-6.7°C Jul 6 12:30 am (-9.5 °C July 19, 2013 5:00 pm)

Greatest temperature drop in 60 minutes:

-10.7°C Jul 6 12:30 - 1:30 pm (-11.8 °C July 19, 2013 4:45-5:45 pm)

Greatest temperature rise in 15 minutes:

3.6°C Jun 2 7:45 am (8.6 °C Jan 2, 2001 6:15 am)

Greatest temperature rise in 60 minutes:

7.7°C Apr 15 8:15 - 9:15 am (12.2 °C Jan 2, 2001 4:45-5:45 am)

Highest precipitation in 15 minutes:

12.6 mm Jul 20 5:30-5:45 pm (24.8 mm Jul 10, 2020 6:45-7:00 pm)

Highest precipitation in 60 minutes:

19.0 mm Jul 29 5:30-6:30 pm (57.4 mm Aug 2, 2014 2:30-3:30 pm)

Highest Precipitation in 1 day:

35.6 mm Feb 9 (88.0 mm Sep 22, 2021) 

Highest 15 minute average wind speed:

28.4 km/h Mar 25 6:00 pm (44.6 km/h Mar 9, 2002 6:30 pm)

Highest wind gust (only available since 2015):

42.1 km/h Mar 25 6:00 pm (44.4 km/h Apr 13, 2015 2:30 pm)

Last time the temperature went below 0 before the summer:

May 18 6:30 am (Has ranged between Apr 26- May 23)

First time the temperature went below 0 after the summer:

Oct 23 12:15 am (Has ranged between Sep 19 - Oct 29)

Length of frost-free season

158 Days (Has ranged between 129-175 days)

Highest daily low temperature:

20.3°C Sep 6 (25.3 °C Aug 1, 2006)

Lowest daily high temperature:

-11.1°C Feb 3 (-20.6 °C Feb 15, 2015)

Largest daily temperature range:

21.6°C May 30 (29.6 °C Feb 19, 2007)

Smallest daily temperature range:

0.80°C Jul 26 (0.45 °C Dec 7, 2005)

Click on the image below to see the temperature chart:

Click on the image below to see the precipitation chart:

December 2023 Summary

The second warmest December on record with average precipitation

After a relatively average first week, it was very warm for the rest of the month.  Overall, it was just over 4 degrees above average, which made it the second warmest December on record behind only 2015 when it was 5.5 degrees above average.

No individual day was all that hot, but it was really the lack of cold temperatures that brought the average up.  In fact, the low temperature for the month of -6.9°C on the 13th was the highest for December in the history of records in the region.

The precipitation for December was pretty consistent throughout the month with a final total of 78.6 mm, this is more than the average of 61.0 mm, but just within the average range.

With the warm weather, it is not surprising that there was only 4.0 cm of snowfall in December, much less than the average of 13 cm and also the least amount for the month in the daily snowfall records that go back to 2001.

Summary for December 2023:

Maximum Temperature 11.6°C

Minimum Temperature -6.9°C

Average Daily High Temperature 4.0°C (Long term average 0.7°C)

Average Daily Low Temperature -0.6°C (Long term average -5.9°C)

Total Precipitation 78.6 mm (Long term average 61.0 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2022 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)