P.E.I. heat wave could break records

A heat warning is in place across P.E.I. with back-to-back days where the forecast temperature is above 30 C.

The overnight low Wednesday is expected to be 19 C. Environment Canada issues a heat warning when forecast temperatures climb above 28 C and do not fall below 18 C overnight.

Days where the temperature reaches 30 C are unusual on P.E.I. but are becoming more common. From 1960-2010 Charlottetown averaged one day a year that hot. In the last six years the average has been close to three.

Wednesday's forecast high of 30 C is not likely to set a daily record in Charlottetown. On June 19, 2020 the temperature reached 31.2 C.  But the 31 C forecast for Thursday would easily top out the June 20 record of 28.3 C, reached both in 1922 and 1923.

Daily records could be topped in Summerside both Wednesday and Thursday. The record for June 19 is 30.2 C, set in 1995. For June 20 it is 29.9 C, set in 2001.

Schools will remain open during the heat wave.

In April, the P.E.I. Home and School Federation passed a resolution suggesting the Public Schools Branch should consider closing schools in extreme heat.

Federation president Shannon Bruyneel told CBC News the resolution, which would shut schools when the forecast is for a humidex above 35, was passed without controversy.

"I don't remember any discussion to the contrary, especially given that there are policies in place for extreme cold weather," said Bruyneel.

"The agreement seemed to be, among people discussing the resolution, that it makes sense to have a policy if the weather is very hot as well."

It's expected to feel as hot as 37 Wednesday and 38 Thursday with the humidex.

The resolution is being discussed with the Public Schools Branch and Department of Education, but is still being reviewed.

Climate change is making these discussions necessary, said Bruyneel.

"We need to have these conversations of when it might be too hot," she said.