It felt more like spring than November in Windsor on Tuesday, as temperatures climbed into the 20s and residents took advantage of an unusually warm day outdoors. Roseland Golf Club was completely sold out, with golfers filling the course, driving range and par-three course as the region enjoyed a break from the cooler temperatures typically associated with early November. “It’s an incredible day here at Roseland. This weather is special for this time of year, and we’re sold out,” exclaimed Dave Deluzio, the club’s general manager and head golf professional. “We have a full capacity tee sheet, the par three course, our driving range, the big course. There are people everywhere today.” Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Rob Kuhn said temperatures reaching the 20s are uncommon this late in the year. Windsor’s daily temperature record for Nov. 3 is 22.7 C, Kuhn said, adding the city had a chance to break it Tuesday. The forecast called for a high of 24 C, with a humidex of 27. Kuhn said Windsor had experienced several consecutive days of unusually mild weather, with temperatures running more like those typically seen in mid-to-late September. He pointed to an increasingly strong El Niño pattern as one factor influencing the weather, explaining that it can help keep Arctic air farther north and allow milder air to dominate across southwestern Ontario. “It’s very strong. It’s very large. It’s probably, it may be actually in record territory for El Niño,” Kuhn said. While El Niño’s biggest influence is typically felt during the winter months, Kuhn said he has already seen its effects reflected in weather patterns during October and into November. The severe weather meteorologist said the latest long-range outlook suggests warmer-than-average temperatures across the region for the month. He added that the forecast patterns he’s been watching have not shown any indication of accumulating snow across southwestern Ontario this month, although longer-range forecasts can change. Back at Roseland, Deluzio said the warmer weather could help extend the golf season. The club has remained open into the third week of November in recent years, and Deluzio said it will continue operating as long as conditions and demand allow. He even remembers golfing at Roseland around Christmas when he was younger. “Right now, everything’s pointing in that direction that we might get an extended season, which is great,” he said. For those unable to secure a tee time, the Gordie Howe International Bridge pedestrian path offered another way to enjoy the sunshine. Andrew Pearson said he had tried to book a round at Roseland but couldn’t find an available time, so he decided to check out the bridge instead. “I was actually trying to make a tee time, and I couldn’t get anything, but this was free to do, and it’s something fun to do, I think, and fun to check out,” Pearson said. LaSalle resident Ian McMullan, who visited the bridge with his wife Susan, said the weather made it difficult to believe it was already November. “It’s incredible. It’s like, it’s hard to realize, you know, that this is November and this kind of day,” he said. For Madeleine Ibrahim, who was visiting the bridge for the first time with Oliver Blunt, the timing couldn’t have been better. “We wanted to do it before the weather, before it got too cold, and today was perfect,” she stated. Kuhn said residents should enjoy the mild conditions while they last, noting that although southwestern Ontario will continue to experience cold spells and snow, the broader climate trend is toward warmer average temperatures. “We’re not going to lose winter completely,” he said. “But certainly we’ll get more mild weather spells in the winter months. The average temperature will be higher.”
