OPERATION: THANKSGIVING HOPE____________________________

High-pressure system puts temperatures in mid-20s all weekend
By Sharon Lem, SUN MEDIA

One thousand needy families will be feasting on turkey and rice Thanksgiving Sunday, thanks to the generosity of the Prayer Palace.

The multicultural non-denominational church will give free turkeys and five-pound bags of rice to about 1,000 families tomorrow following their 10:30 a.m. service.

"It's going to be awesome. We want to offer a turkey and bag of rice to any family in need," said Pastor Tom Melnichuk, associate pastor at the Prayer Palace, located near Finch Ave. W. and Hwy. 400.

"We expect great things from God and we want to reach out to help families spiritually and physically too,"

The weather will also be a blessing, so don't put away your shorts yet. Summer-like temperatures will continue through until Tuesday with the thermometer hitting the low 30s with humidity factored in.

"It's going to be an amazing and incredibly warm Thanksgiving long weekend with well above normal temperatures, almost doubling what our normal highs should be of 16C," said Geoff Coulson, warning preparedness meterologist with Environment Canada.

"We've had a high-pressure system sitting over the lower lakes area in varying degrees of intensity over the last number of weeks since Labour Day and it's continuing to be a dominant weather feature."

Today's high should hit 26C, while tomorrow's high is expected to reach 25C. Monday and Tuesday are promising highs of 25C and 18C respectively.

And if you're heading out of town, drive safely because the OPP will be out in force.

"We want people to think safety," OPP Sgt. Cam Wooley said.

Source: Sun Media (October 6, 2007)