It's been a week of heat and Wednesday was no different. In fact, it was the hottest day yet.
By 3 p.m. the mercury hit 27.2C making Ottawa warmer than some of North America's most well-known hotspots like Los Angeles.
Wednesday's temperatures smashed the previous temperature record of 17.8 C set in 1946. Temperature records were also set across Ontario on Monday and Tuesday.
The unseasonably warm weather has prompted people to engage in activities normally reserved for summer.
Several golf courses opened across the city Wednesday. For many it was the earliest opening day in their history.
And many retail outlets are changing their displays to reflect the warmer temperatures.
"It's been ridiculously busy," said Josh Buchko, manager of the Canadian Tire Garden Centre.
Buchko said sales for spring items like lawn furniture, barbeques, propane, and gardening supplies are up an estimated 50 percent over this time last year.
"May is always the busiest time of the season but this is a very early start for us," said Buchko.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Karen Soloman
