From Heat Warning to Cold Warning? Dryden’s Weather Roller Coaster Hits Full Swing

DRYDEN – WEATHER REPORT – Residents of Dryden and Vermilion Bay are in for a classic Northwestern Ontario weather pivot. The Heat Warning remains in effect for one final day today, with scorching highs of 30°C on the way, combined with humidex values of 31 making the air feel downright tropical. But don’t get too comfortable in the heat—Mother Nature is about to slam the brakes, with thunderstorms this afternoon signaling the beginning of a cool, damp, and possibly frosty weekend.

From Scorching Sunshine to Storms and Showers: The Forecast Story

At 5:00 AM CDT, Dryden Airport reported mainly clear skies and a mild 17.6°C. Humidity is sitting at 58%, paired with a dew point of 9.3°C, creating a pleasant but deceptive early morning warmth. Winds are from the south at 17 km/h, with visibility at 16 km. The barometric pressure is at 100.3 kPa and steady—for now.

Today will begin sunny, but by this afternoon expect a mix of sun and cloud, along with a 40 percent chance of showers and the risk of thunderstorms. Winds will pick up from the southeast at 20 km/h gusting to 40 km/h before becoming light this evening. Temperatures will surge to 30°C with a humidex of 31, and the UV index will sit at 7—high—making sun protection still necessary despite the smoky haze expected to linger from western wildfires.

Tonight will be partly cloudy with a continued 40 percent chance of showers and the risk of thunderstorms early this evening. The skies will clear overnight, and the temperature will dip to 15°C.

Thursday will still feel summerlike early on with a high of 26°C under a mix of sun and cloud, but another 40 percent chance of showers and afternoon thunderstorms is on deck. Winds will strengthen again from the southeast at 30 km/h by late morning. The humidex will make it feel like 29°C, with the UV index remaining high at 7. By Thursday night, showers will become more widespread, with a cooler low of 13°C.

Friday sees the real change arrive, with steady showers expected and a significantly cooler high of just 17°C. The night will remain cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and a low of 7°C.

Saturday will shock the system, as the high will struggle to reach 7°C under cloudy skies and a 40 percent chance of showers—possibly mixing with snow flurries by Saturday night as the temperature dives to -2°C.

Sunday will bring some sunshine breaks, but still with a 40 percent chance of showers and a high of 12°C. The night will remain cold with a low of -1°C.

From Flip-Flops to Fleece: Dryden’s Wardrobe Forecast

Today is your final day for shorts and T-shirts—but keep the umbrella and rain jacket handy for the afternoon. By Friday and especially Saturday, it will be time to haul out the fall (or dare we say, winter) gear again. Those sensitive to weather swings might feel this one hard—it’s going to be a sharp turnaround.

Dryden Weather Trivia

Did you know? Dryden and Vermilion Bay are no strangers to extreme spring reversals. It’s not uncommon to see May highs above 30°C followed by May snowfall within 48 hours—thanks to the region’s collision zone between Arctic and Prairie air masses. This week? Textbook.

Dryden’s May 14 Weather Records

Dryden’s record high for today is 32.5°C, while the record low is -3.1°C. Today’s high of 30°C is close to record territory, but with Saturday’s overnight low forecast at -2°C, we’ll see the city performing another rapid seasonal whiplash.