Hudson Bay is Canada's hotspot twice in a row this week

If you're looking for summer heat in Canada this week, just grab your sunscreen and head to the sun-kissed horizons of… Gillam, Manitoba.

Just a stone's throw from the west shore of Hudson Bay, this northern Manitoba community offers a bustling recreation centre, plenty of outdoor activities and even a beach to enjoy warm summer afternoons.

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Gillam is one of two towns near Hudson Bay that secured the coveted title of “Canada’s Hotspot” this week, recording daily highs of over -5 degrees Celsius at the end of the month.

Here's a look at why people further north had warmer weather than anyone else in the country this week.

An intricate pattern causes temperatures to soar

It takes a slightly twisted pattern to send the heat north while everyone else looks on with slight envy.

This week's weather pattern over the region was characterized by a persistent low pressure system over northern Saskatchewan, while a nearby ridge of high pressure brought ample sunshine to southern parts of Ontario and Quebec.

People in the southern Prairies missed out on the heat because the pesky low was hovering over the area. Meanwhile, winds blowing around the system channeled heat from the U.S. deep into northern Manitoba and Ontario.

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While the cool waters of the Great Lakes took the heat off many Ontario residents, southerly winds evaded the cold lakes on their way to northwestern Ontario, sending temperatures soaring to dizzying heights.

These warm winds heated up even more as they descended into the Hudson Bay lowlands. Descending air warms and dries out as it descends, which is the same principle as a Chinook off the Rocky Mountains – only on a smaller and less extreme scale.

All of this combined to push the national high temperature up to 28.8°C in Gillam, Manitoba, on Thursday, while the national high temperature along the provincial border in Moosonee, Ontario, also climbed to 28.8°C on Friday.

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This type of heat is not uncommon in communities near Hudson Bay. In fact, it is not unusual to see the first 30-degree temperatures of the season in this part of Canada.

Extreme temperature swings are a part of everyday life in this part of Canada. Last year, Peawanuck, Ontario, reached 32°C at 4:00 p.m. on May 30, but a strong wind shift from the lake caused temperatures to drop to just 2°C at 8:00 a.m. the next day.

Who is next on the way to the heat?

All eyes are on the heat potential as we approach June.

A turnaround next week will see temperatures return to normal in regions experiencing heat this week.

Meteorologists are watching as a ridge forms over the Pacific coast, causing heat to rise even further in parts of British Columbia. There are signs that temperatures in the Lower Mainland could rise above 30 degrees, while south of the border in Washington, temperatures could exceed 40 degrees.

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Click here to watch the video