Locals enjoy blistering Victoria Day despite first heat warning of 2026

For a lot of people, the weather on this year’s Victoria day couldn’t have been much better.

Environment Canada issued a warning about the heat, but for many people that was the chance to get outside and enjoy some sunshine.

The beaches were packed with people enjoying the first real break in the damp, chilly weather that stretched back to what felt like a long cold winter.

Temperatures were hitting the 30s in Hamilton and at Sunset Beach in St. Catharines, open again this weekend after months of renovations.

With temperatures feeling around 36 C, this was day one of a May warmup.
Environment Canada says the warm weather is only going to last one more day, before we return to chillier temperatures, but people are happy to get a weather break.

Some people told CHCH News that it was something they needed, and it was nice to see this type of weather return.

WATCH MORE: Victoria Day weekend kicks off summer with fun, fireworks in Dundas

The government agency issued a heat warning, a yellow alert — its first heat event of the year.

It is cautioning people to protect themselves and others from the risk of heat illness, but it’s the lowest of the warning levels and people were enjoying the change.

While the winter blues may be gone, weather officials are warning of a possible “Super El Niño” this summer, the effect of warm water in the Pacific.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that it can be associated with hot dry weather during the summer and into the winter.

Scientists say it’s not clear if that’s going to have much impact in Canada this summer.

For now, there’s one more day of warm weather forecasting around 29 degrees for Tuesday, then the temperatures could go back down.

READ MORE: First hot spell of the season hits southwestern Ontario