The locally heavy rain in the Barrie area and elsewhere on Friday might have helped to quench the thirst of lawns and gardens, but it is not nearly enough to ease a ban on outdoor burning that covers much of the region.
Environment Canada issued rainfall warnings and advisories from Parry Sound in the north to Bradford in the south on Friday with the potential for 50 mm of rain in some locations.
Meanwhile, another sticky, hot weekend is on tap. A heat warning is in place from Parry Sound to the Greater Toronto Area. Environment Canada says the heat and humidity will kick in on Saturday and last through Monday, with daytime temperatures around 30 and humidex values flirting close to 40. Cooler, less humid conditions are expected on Tuesday.
The tinder-dry conditions have put a damper on those hoping for weekend campfires and s'mores.
As of Friday afternoon, outdoor burn bans were in effect in Barrie, Simcoe County, and Muskoka, where the fire danger rating is extreme. The fire danger rating in Orillia is listed as high and outdoor burning has not been banned.
