The calendar says autumn, but the thermometer begs to differ

There’s nothing particularly odd about pumpkin pie in October.

Enjoying some pumpkin pie-flavoured ice cream outside, wearing shorts… in sweltering temperatures on Oct. 2 in Winnipeg?

Odd, indeed.

It was a treat in itself — along with the ice cream — for Elaine Schwager outside Sargent Sundae on Portage Avenue in 26 C heat Thursday afternoon.

“I’m a sun baby,” she said. “I love sitting in the sun all day long.”

Thursday’s heat followed Wednesday’s record-setting temperatures in some Manitoba locations, including Churchill — where it hit 24 C, a full six degrees higher than the previous record of 18 C set in 1977 — Thompson and The Pas. In Winnipeg, it hit 26 C, the fourth-warmest Oct. 1 in recorded history.

While Thursday’s extended bit of summer was a blessing for Schwager, it was more of a curse for her daughter, Eliza Toronto.

“I can’t wait for the summer to be over so I can get the nice, cool weather,” Toronto said, sipping a milkshake on the shady side of the table.

Visitors to Birds Hill Park hoping to take a dip in its man-made summer lake were disappointed to find it had already been drained, but took solace in the nearby grass, enjoying the warm solar rays.

On Tuesday, Winnipeg reached just over 30 C, breaking the former record of 29 C in 1989.

Pressure systems have brought in both warm air and cool, marked with some precipitation, said Natalie Hasell, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“We’ve had a lot of that kind of variability, with more activity further north, allowing that warm air to reach up into southern Manitoba,” she said.

Hasell said Manitobans should expect a cooling-off period over the weekend, with thunderstorms starting Thursday night and into Friday, and cooler temperatures early next week.

While above-average temperatures could still come later in October, it’s unlikely we’ll see days this warm after this week.

“Expect more variability, but I think we’re done for the very warm temperatures… so enjoy it right now,” she said.

Back at Sargent Sundae, owner Andrew Dusessoy has no complaints. The balmy temperatures have brought an above-average number of October customers.

“It feels like a prolonged summer over here, but with the colors of fall, which is actually really lovely,” he said.

The shop typically closes in the first week of November, but he’s keeping an eye on the temperature and considering extending the season.

“You never know what the fall is going to bring, you never know what the winter is going to bring, but you kind of just ride it out until it doesn’t want to go anymore,” he said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca