Record heat wave doesn't stop Parsons Pond, or the group of 25 teenagers on Whitefish Island (6 photos)

Ontario is in the middle of a record-breaking heat wave and Saulites have responded by immersing themselves in water.

According to Environment Canada, on Saturday Sept. 23, several Ontario cities — including Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and Toronto — hit their highest all-time temperature records.

The Sault’s new record for Sept. 23 was 31.5 C, beating out the 2004 record of 27.1 C.

Sudbury’s recorded high of 28.7 C beat out a previous 27.8 C record from 1920.

Sunday was another record breaking day in the Sault with temperatures reaching 31.1 C beating out the previous 2007 record of 26.8 C, and making Sept. 24 the hottest day of 2017 so far (with the humidex factored in).

As the heatwave continues, temperature records are also expected to continue to be broken Monday and Tuesday before things dramatically cool down Tuesday evening when a cold front moves in, stated Environment Canada.

Locals get wet

On Killarney Avenue, George and Georgie Parsons were handling the record breaking temperature with a pool party for family and friends in their backyard paradise that they’ve dubbed ‘Parsons Pond’.

Environment Canada may say there was a high of 31.1 today but George Parsons showed a thermometer on his back deck that definitely read over 40 C, he said it got up to 43 C.

The Parsons have had their pool for 26 years and they usually have it closed around labour day weekend.

“This is absolutely the latest I’ve ever had it open,” said George Parsons. “It’s been so hot lately that we’ve been outside more. The other week, instead of going out for steaks, we had a barbecue.”

Parsons said at the rate things are going the pool might be able to stay open until Thanksgiving this year.

With local outdoor municipal pools closed, groups of teenagers also found a way to get out of the hot weather by jumping into the St. Marys River from the eastern jetty on Whitefish Island — apparently a popular spot for them.

A group of 25 or so 14-16-year-olds were spotted hanging out there on Sunday, some of them riding BMXs into the water.

“On humid days we come out here,” said Dylan Williams, 14. “I’ve been out maybe 20 times this year.”

“When it’s really hot and humid… we come out and dive, swim, bike, and take pictures,” said  Emma Tackney, 15, who added that often times 35 or more youth will be hanging out at that jetty.

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Monday September 24 for most of Algoma.

People should take appropraite precautions.

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The full text of a media release from Environment Canada follows:

A large and persistent area of high pressure over southern and Northeastern Ontario has resulted in mid-summer like weather for the beginning of fall. Temperatures exceeded the 30 C mark in many areas, with many new maximum temperature records set for Saturday, September 23.

The following is a summary of weather event information received by Environment Canada.

Windsor Airport
New record of 31.4
Old record of 30.6 set in 1945
Records began 1940

Sarnia Area
New record of 32.1
Old record of 28.8 set in 2004
Records began 1968

London Airport
New record of 32.2
Old record of 28.3 set in 1959
Records began 1940

Hamilton Airport
New record of 31.0
Old record of 29.7 set in 2004
Records began 1960

Waterloo Wellington Airport
New record of 30.5
Old record of 28.4 set in 2004
Records began 1970

Kitchener-Waterloo Area
New record of 30.5
Old record of 29.4 set in 1936
Records began 1915

Toronto Pearson
New record of 33.1
Old record of 30.6 set in 1959
Records began 1938

Toronto City
New record of 30.6
Old record of 29.2 set in 1931
Records began way back in 1840

Trenton Airport
New record of 28.9
Old record of 27.8 set in 1961
Records began 1935

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier
New record of 29.3
Old record of 28.9 set in 1961
Records began 1939

Petawawa Airport
New record of 29.3
Old record of 25.6 set in 1970
Records began 1970

Sault Ste. Marie Airport
New record of 31.5
Old record of 27.1 set in 2004
Records began 1945

Greater Sudbury Area
New record of 28.7
Old record of 27.8 set in 1920
Records began 1887

North Bay Area
Maximum temperature of 28.3
Tied record of 28.3 set in 1946
Records began 1888

Earlton Airport
New record of 27.7
Old record of 27.2 set in 2004
Records began 1938

Chapleau Area
New record of 28.2
Old record 24.9 set in 2004
Records began 1978

Maximum temperatures below were not quite high enough to set a new

Record for Saturday September 23.

Wiarton Airport
Maximum temperature of 28.1
Current record of 28.6 set in 2004
Records began 1947