Record-Breaking Heatwave in Canada: Unprecedented Temperatures in the North

Canada’s farthest northern regions are currently experiencing a Record-Breaking Heatwave in Canada, leading to some of the hottest days ever recorded. Over the past weekend, the temperatures in the Northwest Territories broke previous records, according to weather experts.

This latest extreme weather event coincides with Canada’s worst wildfire season on record, affecting millions due to harmful smoke.

Last Thursday, unofficial records show that Earth experienced its highest ever temperatures. The global average temperature of 17.32C (63.17F) for the planet came after the single-day record was surpassed twice earlier that same week. This global event underscores the severity of the Record-Breaking Heatwave in Canada.

Record-Breaking Heatwave in Canada On the Northwest Territories

In the Northwest Territories (NWT), the community of Fort Good Hope recorded a Saturday temperature of 37.4C, marking “the hottest temperature recorded that far north in Canada,” says Environment Canada meteorologist Jesse Wagar. “Each summer is just getting hotter and hotter,” adds Wagar.

Of the top five temperatures ever recorded in the NWT, four occurred in the past eight years, with three of those in the last three summers. This trend is a clear indication of the ongoing Record-Breaking Heatwave in Canada.

This latest heatwave has attracted a lot of attention, but “May, June and July have all seen pretty incredible temperature records and temperature records are falling at a pretty significant rate,” says Wagar. In the first nine days of July, the NWT has already seen 17 temperature records broken.

July of last year, 18 records were broken. In June 2023, 24 records were broken, compared to four in June 2022. These statistics highlight the intensity and impact of the Record-Breaking Heatwave in Canada.

The heatwave affecting Canada’s north is expected to begin to cool on Wednesday, according to Environment Canada. However, temperatures are still forecast to remain dangerously high. Some experts say climate change is causing the Arctic to warm two-to-four times faster than the rest of the planet.

Meanwhile, Canada’s unprecedented wildfire season continues to worsen, with hundreds of active fires burning across the country. As the Record-Breaking Heatwave in Canada continues, the country faces significant challenges in managing these environmental crises.