Another 30 degree day in the long hot summer of 2006

Temperatures once again hit the 30 degree mark in Winnipeg today.. the 5th time this month, and the 22nd time this summer. At my station in Charleswood, the temperature climbed to 32.2C today, the 23rd thirty degree day of the summer. It has been a long hot summer over Winnipeg this year, especially July which saw a sizzling 16 days of 30 degrees or more. Normally Winnipeg will experience about eleven 30 degree days over a summer, with 4 on average in July and August. This year however has seen a persistent upper ridge maintaining above normal temperatures and more importantly dry conditions that have allowed plenty of sunshine to boost daytime temperatures throughout the summer.