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IQALUIT -Iqaluit was the hottest it's ever been last week.

Last Monday, the mercury hit 26.8 C, the all-time highest temperature ever recorded in the capital city's history.

The 26.8 C temperature was higher than the 26.1 C reached on July 29, 2003 - which had previously been the balmiest day in Iqaluit's history, said Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor.

"It was a perfect situation," said Proctor, explaining there was a strong ridge of high pressure over Hudson Bay, with winds that brought up a flow of warm air from Ontario, Quebec and the American mid-west.

The ridge was responsible for record-shattering temperatures all weekend.

The high on Saturday, July 19 was 22.1 C, hotter than the 19.5 C record for the same day in 2001.

Iqaluit warmed up Sunday to 24.6 C, almost three degrees warmer than the previous record for July 20, set in 1949, of 21.7 C.

Well above-average temperatures continued for the rest of the week.

The normal high temperature for this time of year is around 12 C.

Proctor said while many communities on Baffin Island experienced near-record highs, Iqaluit was situated in the right spot to receive the benefits of the high pressure ridge.

Iqalummiut were out in droves on the weekend enjoying the abnormal heat.

Lineups were long at the Fantasy Palace, with people trying to cool off with ice cream or cold drinks.

Not everyone was thrilled with the scorching conditions.

At the Parks Day celebration at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park on Saturday, Kopa Mike took off her coat, fanning herself.

"It's too hot," she said.