October 2010 Weather Summary

[ChesterNZ]

Originally Posted by Stumbler.

Toronto's summers are about as hot as we can get in this country, except for those few cities further south, like Windsor, or the places in BC's Okanagan (Osoyoos, Lilooet), which might have the hottest summers.

Judging by the fact that around half of all households in Canada (higher than I'd have expected), and four out of five in Ontario have air conditioning (2007 Survey of Household Energy Use - Summary Report), it looks like most Canadians think their summers are too hot.

Osoyoos has an average high of 32 C in July which is impressive given its latitude (49 N) and relatively mild winters.

[deneb78]

Originally Posted by ChesterNZ

Osoyoos has an average high of 32 C in July which is impressive given its latitude (49 N) and relatively mild winters.

Actually, Osoyoos' average high temperature in July and August is only 29C but that still is impressive for 49N in my opinion.

Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000 | Canada's National Climate Archive

[ColdCanadian]

Originally Posted by Stumbler.

Judging by the fact that around half of all households in Canada (higher than I'd have expected), and four out of five in Ontario have air conditioning (2007 Survey of Household Energy Use - Summary Report), it looks like most Canadians think their summers are too hot.

If I had to pay extra for A/C in a house in Toronto I wouldn't bother.
Glad to have it if it's already there, in case we exceed 35 C/95 F.

Have heard of people paying $1800+ for a central A/C unit.
At that price I'd rather just make a lot of iced drinks here.

Funny how The Weather Network recommended turning A/C stats "up" to 24 C/75 F to save energy.
I don't even enjoy having the thermostat cooling at 26 C/79 F.
Perfectly comfy at 28 C/82 F and all right at 29 C/84 F.

[Stumbler.]

Originally Posted by ColdCanadian

If I had to pay extra for A/C in a house in Toronto I wouldn't bother.
Glad to have it if it's already there, in case we exceed 35 C/95 F.

Have heard of people paying $1800+ for a central A/C unit.
At that price I'd rather just make a lot of iced drinks here.

Funny how The Weather Network recommended turning A/C stats "up" to 24 C/75 F to save energy.
I don't even enjoy having the thermostat cooling at 26 C/79 F.
Perfectly comfy at 28 C/82 F and all right at 29 C/84 F.

I agree that it's not to hard to survive with a fan plugged in and drinks, although the vast majority of places here have A/C already in place.

Toronto averages 0.54 days above 35C a year, and around 12.6 above 30C (although we got 40 in some hot year -- may have been '05?), which is not too bad. The heatwaves that actually lead to deaths, say in Europe in 2003 are said to be due to the elderly and those with health problems lacking A/C, because of their regular mild summers as well as the locals not being used to responding in ways such as hydrating themselves. Here, it's probably more of the problem that our buildings are designed to trap heat so well, resulting in so many days in the high twenties all summer long that annoys people.

I personally think 25C is a reasonable room temperature anyways (I've heard 20-25C). I wonder if Canadians are more sensitive to heat, both indoor and outdoor than other countries and regions (e.g. Americans further south) or if room temps differ much.