Cool, crisp days of autumn delayed as October temperatures expected to be above normal for Waterloo region

September was warm and dry here in Waterloo region and weather experts say the next few weeks will likely bring similar conditions.

Frank Seglenieks is a water resources engineer and the co-ordinator of the E.D. Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo. He says a two-week "really hot streak" during September saw temperatures at 5 C above what the normals are for this year. Overall, the month was about 1.5 C warmer than the average.

While it was warm, Seglenieks noted there were no days over 30 C.

When it came to rain, about 20 mm fell when the region usually sees closer to 72 mm.

Those readings from the University of Waterloo were also reflected in readings taken at the Region of Waterloo International Airport in Breslau, Stephen Flisfeder from Environment Canada told CBC News.

The airport recorded 23.4 mm of rain "which is fairly dry" for the month, he said.

Between 1991 to 2020, the norm was 75.2 mm, Flisfeder said, about "a third of what it should have been."

Seglenieks says the rain seemed to come earlier in the season.

"July was really wet, August was less wet and now September is really on the low end," he said. "It really is kind of been a, 'Hey, we got all this rain. I hope you enjoyed all that rain early in the summer because now the last part of the summer is going to be very dry.'"

'October sun is still fairly strong'

Looking ahead for people eager for the crisp, cool days of fall, Flisfeder says "the trend for the rest of the fall is above normal."

Seglenieks saidpeople can expect temperatures to be "a little bit above average, but not crazy."

While there have been days of 30 C or higher in the past, that's not expected this month.

"But it doesn't look like we're going to go below 0 C either. We're just going to kind of keep in that little bit above average zone for the next few weeks," he said.

With those mild temperatures, Flisfeder says people need to remember to continue to wear sunscreen, sunglasses and protect themselves from UV rays.

"The October sun is still fairly strong," he said. "There's no problem with enjoying it, just be safe when you're doing so."