Thunder Bay Locals Shocked by Fall Heatwave
THUNDER BAY—As Thunder Bay residents head into October, many are still scratching their heads wondering if the weather they experienced in September was real, and if maybe there’s a chance of it continuing into October. But don't worry, climate change isn’t real.
September 2024 will officially go down in the books as Thunder Bay’s hottest and driest on record. The national weather agency confirmed that from Sept. 1 to Sept. 29, the average daily high was a balmy 23.3°C—blowing past the 2009 record of 22.2°C. That's nine degrees above normal, folks. "A fairly wide margin" in meteorological speak, said Clara Stormwell, a senior meteorologist who was probably too busy sweating to finish her morning coffee.
“For us, the long-term average high is 19.2°C,” Stormwell explained, wiping her brow. “So obviously, last month was way above normal, or as we like to call it now, 'the new normal.’”
Stormwell also pointed out that the average daily temperature, factoring in those cooler evenings, was 15.9°C, also breaking a 2009 record. And as if the warmth wasn't enough to make people start pondering solar panels, September was also bone-dry, with just 7 mm of rain. The previous record? A "whopping" 13.5 mm, also from—you guessed it—2009. Seems like Thunder Bay's seasons are changing more than a teenager's TikTok algorithm.
“Normally, this time of year I’d be raking leaves and prepping for snow,” said local Thunder Bay resident Maria Delaney, 46, while fanning herself with a soggy Westfort Foods flyer. “But now I’m just sweating through my Halloween costume planning. It’s spooky—and not in the fun way!”
But don’t tell that to Gary Stevens, 54, who believes the heat is all part of a grand government conspiracy. “You think a few warm days means the world is ending? Ha! Climate change is a hoax made up by, I dunno, Big Thermometer,” Gary said confidently, while wearing a sweater and sipping a steaming coffee despite the balmy temperature. “This is just a blip. Been happening for centuries. My grandpappy used to say, ‘If it’s hot, just wait. It’ll snow eventually.’”
While Gary's theory could get him a guest spot on late-night radio, the data disagrees. Thunder Bay’s long-term average for September usually hovers around 12.4°C, so yeah, something’s cooking—and it’s not just the lake trout. Meteorologists have predicted more "normal" weather returning in mid October, with some actual rain forecasted (yes, water falling from the sky—it’s been a while, we know).
Still, many locals are scratching their heads and nervously rechecking their thermostats. “It’s hard to ignore the changes when you’re living through it,” said Delaney. “I mean, I just want to get back to complaining about regular fall stuff, like leaf mold and too much pumpkin spice. Not... this.”
As Thunder Bay slides from its tropical September into what should be more typical fall fare, the city remains divided between those nervously eyeing the skies and Gary, who’s pretty sure the government is hiding snow machines somewhere up north.
“Mark my words,” Gary concluded, adjusting his toque in the heat. “It’ll be -30°C by Christmas. You’ll see.”
Whether you’re ready to invest in shorts year-round or hoping Gary’s right, one thing is clear: Thunder Bay’s weather is definitely keeping everyone on their toes. Just don't mention the words "climate change" around certain folks—unless you’ve got time for a long conversation about chemtrails.