Hamilton breaks seasonal temperature records with sunny weather

Hamilton set a new record temperature on Monday as Environment Canada recorded 21 degrees Celsius by 4 p.m. and people were out enjoying the sunshine.

It was 20 degrees by 2 p.m. and 21 by 4 p.m., leaping far past the previous record of 15.6 set back in 1974.

Environment Canada says the seasonal temperatures for the beginning of March are typically around three degrees.

The spike in the mercury motivated many at Bayfront Park to get out off their homes to walk the dog, go for a run or take a stroll.

READ MORE: Ontario temperature records broken as unseasonable warmth hits the province

Hamilton wasn’t the only city feeling the warmth.

Environment Canada says records are being broken by a couple of degrees across southern Ontario from the west to the northeast, thanks to a warm mass of air coming in from the United States.

“There’s a really strong flow from the south so we’re drawing up air from the Gulf of Mexico, coming northwards towards us.” reports Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson.

The federal agency says it was already anticipating a much milder winter.

“The El Nino phenomenon, the warmer than normal waters in the pacific ocean off the coast of south America tends to give us a bit of a milder than normal winter, and this was a particularly strong El Nino so its influence is going to be strong as well, and climate change.”