Thunderstorms roll across Island as Summerside breaks heat records

Unofficial records from Environment Canada show Summerside, P.E.I., had its hottest day in June ever on Tuesday, and the heat contributed to thunderstorms over most of the Island.

Some areas were reporting sudden downbursts of rain by late afternoon, after Environment Canada issued a watch for strong wind gusts, torrential rain, and hail. The severe thunderstorm watch was in effect for Prince and Queens counties, but parts of Kings County could also hear the claps. 

The thunderstorm watch ended shortly before 5 p.m.

The Canadian Lightning Danger Map from EnvironmCanada was showing lightning in West Prince just before 3 p.m., spreading to the Charlottetown area by 4:30 p.m.

This week's heat wave has blasted temperature records in P.E.I.'s two cities: for a June 8, by more than 2 C in Charlottetown and more than 4 C in Summerside.

Previous records in the cities for a June 8 were both well under 30 C, 27.2 C in Summerside and 27.8 C in Charlottetown. The temperature peaked at 29.9 C in Charlottetown at 1 p.m., but was still climbing at 32.3 C at 2 p.m. in Summerside.

Previously, the hottest June day in Summerside was June 29, 1947, when the temperature hit 32.2 C.

Temperatures higher than 30 C are unusual on P.E.I., even at the height of summer, but may be becoming more common. From 2008-2017 there were a total of nine at Charlottetown Airport, slightly less than one a year. From 2018-20 there were also nine, an average of three a year.

The temperature was expected to peak early on the Island Tuesday, around midday, with a change in the weather coming in the afternoon.

"The clouds will be on the increase today so that's going to hold our temperatures back," said CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin.

Tuesday's late afternoon rain was expected to break the heat. The high Wednesday will be 18 C with some continuing showers, and on Thursday the temperature will reach only 14 C.

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