Record high New Year's temperature set in Sault

You wouldn't know it right now, but earlier today, we set a record high temperature for New Year's Day in Sault Ste. Marie.

Between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. today, the mercury climbed to 7.0 degrees Celcius, compared to the previous record for this date, 2.5 degrees, set in 2007.

At noon today, however, the temperature started dipping sharply.

At 7 p.m., it was -8 degrees.

The following statement was issued tonight by Environment Canada:

************************* Record warm temperatures to start the new year

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM FROM COLORADO TRACKED ACROSS NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO TODAY.

THIS WAS THE THIRD SUCH LOW OVER A PERIOD OF ONLY A FEW DAYS AND THE RESULTING PERSISTENT SOUTHERLY FLOW HAS BROUGHT UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES TO PARTS OF THE PROVINCE.

NUMEROUS MAXIMUM HIGH TEMPERATURES RECORDS HAVE FALLEN AS A RESULT.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF NEW TEMPERATURES RECORDS AS OF 7 P.M. NOTE THAT THE OFFICIAL MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 1 AM SUNDAY.

THE OLD RECORD APPEARS IN BRACKETS FOLLOWING THE NEW RECORD.

SAULT STE MARIE - 7.0 (3.5 - 2007) SUDBURY - 7.1 (3.7 - 2007) NORTH BAY - 7.2 (4.8 - 2007) WAWA - 5.6 (1.2 - 1987) CHAPLEAU - 5.7 (-0.1 - 2007) EARLTON - 5.8 (2.2 - 1966) TIMMINS - 6.2 (1.1 - 1972) KAPUSKASING - 4.5 (1.1 - 1953)

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SUMMARY CONTAINS THE OBSERVATIONS AT THE TIME OF BROADCAST AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFICIAL AND FINAL REPORT OF THE WEATHER EVENTS OR THE HIGH IMPACT EVENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE WEATHER EVENTS.

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