It seems that Ontario has never been hotter! Literally. As July becomes August, Ottawa is still in a level 2 drought. While the Weather Network predicted an average summer with average temperatures and average rainfall, it’s turning out to be quite the opposite. Ottawa has never experienced a 12-month period like this. The weather we have seen from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 is the warmest and driest ever recorded during that same time period in the history of Ottawa.
In Ottawa, over the past 12 months, the average temperature was 8.5°C, significantly higher than the average at 6.2°C. During the same period, 619 millimetres of rain or snow fell making it 12 millimetres short of the previous record low in 1960-61. The lack of precipitation is the most astonishing statistic though, with only 19.6 millimetres of rain in the past month compared to the average of about 96 millimetres.
Even with the recent rainstorms in Ontario in late July, it has not been enough to get us out of this drought. Firework displays have been cancelled, crops are being damaged or dying, and restaurants have had to take certain options off their menus because of a lack of food production from farms. Some farmers have reported less than five centimetres of rain since the beginning of the growing season, which is taking a huge toll on their crops, which will ensure the cost of food will skyrocket. Everyone who lives in the Rideau watershed has been told to cut their normal water usage by 10-20 percent, while thankfully urban Ottawa residents get their water from the Ottawa River, which seems not to be at a dangerously low level.
Not only that, but the extremely dry conditions in Ontario have caused an increased risk of forest fires to extreme levels. By July 20, the summer’s fire count in Ontario reached 941, which easily surpasses the ten-year average of 572 fires. On July 22 Ottawa firefighters had to fight 5 residential fires plus a brush fire in Carp all in the span of 12 hours.
Animals are having just as hard if not harder times than us. Some farmers in the Ottawa Valley are experiencing a huge lack of growth in food for their cattle. The price of hay has skyrocketed since there is such stifled growth. A bale of hay costs twice what it usually costs. No water and no food for their cattle results in twice the number of cattle up for auction with prices dropping constantly.
The Ottawa Valley wildlife is not exempt from the heat or drought. Since there is much less plant growth, the insects, grubs and caterpillars that depend on the plants are suffering. And since, on the food chain, these creatures are food for the birds, in turn the birds suffer. Animals like chipmunks and squirrels that depend on nuts and berries will have to go farther to obtain food. It doesn’t take a scientist to see where that trend could eventually end up if the drought continues past this summer. We could potentially see certain species disappearing from Ottawa altogether.
So what can we do to make a bad situation a bit better? Ottawaians are being advised to take precautions. Dry grass, bushes and trees are a fire hazard when exposed to even the smallest flame. Residents who draw their water from the Ottawa River are been advised to water their lawns and plants in an attempt to prevent the fires. Other “don’ts” are: Don’t throw cigarette butts or matches aside carelessly – make sure they’re out – and don’t use any form of backyard fire pit.
Tips for staying cool the “green” way are in my last blog post!