Hamilton sees record-breaking heat 2 days in a row, data shows

Hamilton has record-breaking heat two days straight, according to CBC'sClimate Dashboard.

On Monday it was 18.8 C,setting a new record for March 4. The previous record was 15.6 C in 1974.

On Tuesday, it was also 18.8 C, setting a new record for March 5.The previous record was 17.8 C in 2004.

"Temperatures in the last 30 days were extremely hot compared to the historic average," reads the dashboard, which uses data from the Meteorological Service of Canada.

The effects of climate change are showingthis year, whichhas seen52 daysabove 0C as of March 5,compared to the average of 29 days. The historical average is calculated usingdata between 1981 and2010.

• CBC's climate dashboard: Search for your town or city to compare it to previous years

The warm weather has prompted changes in the environment, from an early maple syrup harvest to earlier animal migrations.

Every year, Burlington, Ont., temporarily closes King Road to allow the endangered Jefferson salamanders to safely cross during their breeding migration.

This year, the city opted to implement that closure in early instead of mid March, according to a city media release.

The road is closed as of Tuesday, fromNorth Service Road to Mountain Brow Road, until April 2.