Tuesday's temperatures break record for warmest Oct. 13 in Waterloo region

Tuesday's temperatures break record for warmest Oct. 13 in Waterloo region

But be prepared for cooler weather! 'We're into sweater territory right now,' meteorologist says

At 3 p.m. Tuesday, the recorded temperature in Waterloo region reached 26.8 C, beating the previous record of 26.5 C for the warmest Oct. 13 set in 2008.

At 4 p.m., 26.9 C was recorded at the Region of Waterloo International Airport.

The Eric D. Soulis Weather Station at the University of Waterloo reported at 4 p.m. the temperature had reached 27.7 C.

With humidity, it felt more like temperatures were in the low to mid 30 C range.

"A very warm, unseasonably warm and record-breaking warm in southern Ontario today," Peter Kimbell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, told CBC News Tuesday afternoon.

Kimbell was in Ottawa where the temperature was about 6 C and people there were "shivering in winter-like conditions."

He noted Waterloo region will see some ups and downs in weather over the next few days.

Wednesday the high will be 16 C "so much more seasonal" but it will get cooler from there, with 12 C the high on Thursday and Friday and dropping to freezing Friday night.

There's also the potential for rain in the forecast on Wednesday and Friday.

People were outside in Kitchener's Victoria Park Tuesday afternoon soaking up the sun. Many were wearing T-shirts, some had on shorts and tank tops as they went for a run.

Kimbell warned they may want to get out the warmer clothes soon.

"I mean, it is mid-October. I think we're into sweater territory right now," he said, noting the normal high for this time of year is 14 C which "on a sunny day, it's pleasant, but on a cloudy or rainy day, that's pretty chilly. And then, we're going downhill from here."

Last year, the region saw its first snowfall on Nov. 9. Kimbell wasn't able to say when exactly snow will fall again, but says it's best to be prepared.

"I hate to say it, but the white stuff is not too far away," he said.