Record-breaking warm weather hits Waterloo Region

You may have ditched the winter coat on Friday for something lighter, as record-breaking warm weather hit Waterloo Region.

Most of Ontario is experiencing above seasonal temperatures and smashing weather records, dating back decades.

Locally, Waterloo Region broke a record that’s almost a century old.

Peter Kimbell is a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

He said a temperature of 13.6 degrees was recorded in the region as of 2 p.m. and expected the high for the day to hit 14 or 15 degrees.

According to Environment Canada records, the old high for Feb. 9 in Waterloo Region was 11.1 degrees, set in 1925.

Kimbell said the unseasonably warm weather is part of a larger, ongoing trend.

“What is more unusual this year is the fact that we’ve had consistent warm temperatures from December, through January, and into February as well.”

Kimbell said the last month with consistent below average temperatures was August of last year, and the last winter month that was consistently below average was January of 2022.

While Friday’s record-breaker was welcomed by many, the conditions won’t be sticking around.

Kimbell said Sunday will be noticeably cooler and colder weather is expected throughout next week.