THUNDER BAY — There are broad hints that fall may arrive early this year in Northwestern Ontario.
After a mostly above-normal summer in terms of temperatures, thermometer readings took a dip toward the end of August.
Long-range weather forecasts from various agencies show that trend is expected to continue next week, with daily highs only reaching the mid-teens, or several degrees below normal.
One agency expects the maximum next week will plummet to as low as 11 C by Wednesday, well off the historical average of 18 C for Sept. 9.
Environment Canada's long-range forecast doesn't extend past Monday, when it currently expects a high of 15 C in Thunder Bay.
But meteorologist Gerald Cheng agrees a downward trend is likely, saying "There is a taste of fall in the air. As we head into next week, don't be surprised if there is a dip farther down in temperatures."
Cheng said August finished with an average temperature of 17.1 C in Thunder Bay, or half a degree warmer than normal.
But the data is skewed, he said, by a significant weather change in the last week, after three weeks of "some really warm days, especially in the first two-thirds of the month. Cooler temperatures dominated in the latter part."
