On this day in 1972, Saultbies froze their bocce balls

This story sat on our home page most of today with a headline complaining about the heat and a picture of a hot sun.

Finally, we at SooToday.com got sick of looking at it.

We decided to show you a beaker of ice water instead.

Did you know that on this date in 1972, the mercury actually dropped below freezing in the Sault?

Minus 0.6 Celcius, to be precise, according to Environment Canada.

Or 33 Fahrenheit.

Today, however, the Medical Officer of Health in Toronto issued a heat alert, encouraging the public to call or visit friends and neighbours who are at risk of suffering health consequences because of hot weather.

Here in the Sault, it was also a hot one, with 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. temperatures recorded at Sault Ste. Marie Airport of 31 Celcius (88 Fahrenheit).

That was just two degrees off from the highest temperature on this date in Sault Ste. Marie, experienced in 1994 when the mercury hit 33 C (91 F).

By 4 p.m., things appeared to be starting to cool off for the evening and by 6 p.m. the temperature was down to 29 C (84 F)

The normal maximum for this date is 22 C (72 F).

Yesterday's high temperature in Sault Ste. Marie was 27 C (81 F).

Here's a note we got tonight from an overheated out-of-town Saultbie:

********************* Hi Dave,

I have to say that reading all about the hot weather woes that the Soo is currently experiencing, I have to say that I am questioning my desire to return home.

I am living in St Catharines and the temperature here is currently sitting at 31 C as of 6 p.m. with a 'feels like' of 35 C.

When we experience heat like this here, that would be when I long to be in the Soo the most.

But not today obviously.

Thanks for keeping me in touch with home.

- a.k.

********************* Here's the latest Environment Canada forecast at time of writing:

Today

A mix of sun and cloud. 60 percent chance of showers with the risk of a thunderstorm. High 29. UV index 9 or very high.

Tonight

Cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers. Risk of a thunderstorm. Low 18. Sunday Showers. Risk of a thunderstorm. Wind west 30 km/h becoming light late in the day. High 22.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers. Low 14. High 20.

Tuesday

Sunny. Low 10. High 21.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers. Low 11. High 21.

********************