Things are about to heat up again in eastern Ontario and west Quebec.

After a few days of milder weather, the heat and humidity will return Wednesday and continue through the weekend.

In the last twelve months, the capital region has seen it’s hottest and driest stretch of weather ever, with only two thirds the average rainfall.  According to the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, we’ve been dealing with level one drought conditions since last fall.

The lack of rain is causing navigation concerns along the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River. The low water levels have the conservation authority looking at hiking the level one drought conditions to level two, which would mean a call for residents to reduce water consumption by 20 per cent. If the drought level hits three, the restrictions become mandatory.

The conditions have also been hard on area golf courses.

Falcon Ridge general manager Steve Spratt told 1310News they are watering the greens, fairways and tee boxes. “Pond wise, we are as any course in the area,” he said.  “We need rain before too too long because our water resources are drying up.”  

At Stonebridge, Joe Warner says grounds crews have a similar plan of attack. “It is a little drier than normal, yes, but it hasn’t deteriorated the course to anything that would make it unenjoyable,” he said.

Both Spratt and Warner said despite the dry conditions, both courses are in great shape.

It appears the sprinklers will continue to run at golf courses around our area. 1310 meteorologist Richard Zurawski doesn’t see much change in the Environment Canada three-month outlook. “(It will be) a long hot summer with drier than normal conditions,” he said.