Unusual weather that saw record heat in Ontario, snowstorms in Prairies to shift

TORONTO - Environment Canada says warm weather that's had people in some parts of Ontario and Quebec donning shorts and T-shirts is forecast to cool off in the coming days.

And the agency says the Prairies should get some clearer skies after blizzard-like conditions rolled into many parts of the region this weekend.

Much of Central Canada saw a burst of unseasonable heat that remains in many areas today, helping Ontarians wipe away memories of lashing wind and rain two weeks ago from superstorm Sandy.

Environment Canada says 10 municipalities in Ontario unofficially smashed heat records on Sunday, as temperatures in some areas peaked at almost 20 degrees Celsius.

Beverly Archibald — director and meteorologist of True North Weather Consulting Inc. — says the unusual weather is likely being fuelled by El Nino, a warming of surface ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific.

She says if El Nino persists there will likely be more snow in store for the Prairies while EasternCanada may see more swings between warm and cold weather.