Environment: 1) County of Simcoe to conduct controlled burn in Clearview; 2)Warm fall ahead for Barrie after near-perfect summer

1) County of Simcoe to conduct controlled burn in Clearview

Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release

By County of Simcoe, September 22, 2026

Simcoe County establishing temporary reception centre for asylum claimants in Bradford

The County of Simcoe will be conducting a controlled burn on approximately 5 hectares (12.5 acres) within the County Forest ‘Nottawasaga Tract’ located at 793455 County Road 124 in the Township of Clearview. The burn may take place as early as conditions allow in late September or early October and is expected to be completed within one day. This controlled burn was originally planned to take place in the spring of 2026 but was delayed due to weather conditions. The exact timing will depend on site and weather conditions and cannot be confirmed with absolute certainty until 12-24 hours in advance.

This controlled burn is being carried out largely in response to the lingering effects of the 2025 ice storm, which left significant debris and brush following the salvage of damaged trees. This material poses a fire hazard and limits the ability to access the site to enable reforestation. A controlled burn will help remove this excess debris and support the restoration of the forest’s natural ecosystem over time. The property will be replanted and remain part of the County’s 34,000 acres of municipal forest.

Lands and Forests Consulting (LFC), who provides highly trained and experienced personnel, has been contracted to conduct the burn, as they have done previously for Simcoe County Forestry. Smoke impacts will be minimized by burning only under specific wind and atmospheric conditions. Smoke will disperse to the NE, E, or SE for the duration of the operation and possibly into the next day. At certain stages of the operation, a visible smoke column may be observed from several kilometres away. This is normal for this type of operation, and there is no cause for alarm. The County does not anticipate any road closures or significant disruption to residents.

2)Warm fall ahead for Barrie after near-perfect summer

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Staff, September 22, 2026

After a summer that brought plenty of rain, moderate heat and little drought concern, Canadians can expect a warmer-than-normal fall, with an early winter outlook pointing toward milder conditions driven by a powerful El Nino.

Looking back, climatologist David Phillips characterized the summer as one that struck a comfortable balance between warmth and rainfall.

“If you’re a big fan of sort of Goldilocks kind of weather, well, then this is what we had,” Phillips told Barrie 360.

While temperatures did not reach the extremes experienced a year ago, the region still recorded more days above 30 C than normal. At the same time, consistent rainfall helped keep lawns green, crops healthy and water supplies replenished.

According to Phillips, every month of the summer finished wetter than normal, with rainfall totals ending roughly 50 per cent above average.

“The D-word, drought, was not used,” he said.

The frequent rain also appears to have delayed the annual colour change, with many trees holding onto their green leaves later than usual.

Fall forecast points to more warmth

As summer transitions into autumn, Phillips expects the mild pattern to continue.

Long-range forecasting models are projecting above-normal temperatures across the country for the season ahead. While cool mornings, frost and even an early snowfall remain possible, Phillips said those isolated events don’t define an entire season.

“The fall forecast is showing that we’re going to clearly be warmer than normal,” he said. “All Canada is going to be warm.”

The forecast also suggests wetter-than-normal conditions, although Phillips noted that the region has largely escaped the windstorms and tropical storm remnants that can sometimes affect Ontario during the fall months.

He added that recent years have produced longer, more comfortable autumns, extending the period between summer heat and winter snow.

“It may be over, (but) we still have a lot of summery weather to come,” Phillips said.

A milder winter may be on the horizon

Attention is also turning to El Nino, a warming of ocean waters in the Pacific that can have global weather impacts.

Phillips said the current El Nino is developing rapidly and could become one of the strongest ever observed.

“This is what they call the Godzilla of El Nino’s, the Super El Nino,” he said. “It is likely to be the granddaddy one of them all.”

Historically, strong El Nino winters in the Great Lakes region have been milder than average, often featuring fewer extreme cold outbreaks, more rain events and reduced snowfall totals.

That does not mean winter weather will disappear altogether. Phillips cautioned that other atmospheric factors, including the polar vortex, could still deliver stretches of bitter cold.

Still, based on current conditions, he believes the coming winter is more likely to be remembered as what previous generations described as an “open, soft, and tame” season, rather than one dominated by prolonged snow and extreme cold.

For now, residents can expect a comfortable fall, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the changing season before winter arrives.