Sunny days and unusually hot weather shone on the faces of Whitehorse residents all this week, but not only those catching rays in the park felt the effects of the heat.

With temperatures in the high 20s or low 30s all week, Whitehorse experienced its hottest ever July day on Wednesday, reaching 33.1 C. It broke that record the following day with a high of 33.2 C for Thursday.

The previous July high was in 1951, when temperatures soared to 32.8 C.

The record for the hottest day ever in the Yukon has yet to be broken. That record was set June 14, 1969, when temperatures reached 34.4 C.

Whitehorse also had less precipitation than normal in July. Whereas the average rainfall for this month is 41.4 millimetres, Whitehorse received only 23.2 millimetres of rain.

A ridge of high pressure over the territory is the cause of the heat wave, said Doug Lunquist, meteorologist for Environment Canada.

That ridge will start to break down over the weekend, leading to cooler temperatures.

Today will be sunny with a high of 28 C. Temperatures will cool down to 24 C Saturday, and 20 C Sunday with a 40 per cent chance of showers.

A weaker ridge of high pressure will build up Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the mid-20s.

Rotary Peace Park was a crowded location Thursday afternoon as people took advantage of the warmth and the water park.

Teresa Eccles of Maple Valley, Wash., drove to the Yukon on a whim while their cruise ship was anchored in Skagway.

Eccles and her family were picnicking in Rotary Peace Park on Thursday afternoon.

"We love it," she said about the weather, although she said it wasn't as hot in Whitehorse as it was in Washington.

Thanya and Joshua Martinez stopped by Whitehorse on their way to Anchorage, where they will be stationed with the U.S. Air Force.

"We were actually both really surprised because we thought the more north we went, it would get cooler," said Thanya Martinez.

They said their first impression of the Yukon has been a good one, and they are excited about moving to Alaska.

To take advantage of the sun, the Martinez's took their two puppies, Bear and Bella, to play in the park.

Cameron Weeks and Kevin Caron were also enjoying the sunshine Thursday and could be spotted playing Frisbee in the park.

Weeks said he and his friend were "enjoying (the heat) as much as we can before it rains."

"It's awesome," said Caron about the weather.

"It's crazy hot," responded Weeks.

Lois Moore of Whitehorse said until yesterday, she had been too busy working to spend time in the afternoon sun, but she took time out Thursday to sit on a shaded bench and take her children to the water park.

"I wish it could stay like this for the winter months," she said, adding that she can't remember a hot summer since 2004.

To cool off, Destiny Clennett and her friend, Makai Hanke, were eating ice cream cones and playing in the water park.

"It's really fun. I like summer better than winter," said Clennett.

Travis Pumphrey works at the ice cream stand in Rotary Peace Park.

He said yesterday the Cyclones were the most popular flavour, "but somebody just bought 28 Jolly Ranchers."

Pumphrey estimated he sold about 50 ice cream cones by mid-Thursday afternoon.

It's not just ice cream sales that are increasing, fresh produce, meat and cold drinks are a hot item at the Porter Creek Super A, said grocery manager Steve Tippett.

Tippett said the heat is "totally" good for business, as more people go camping and have picnics.

"Everything sells more in this weather," he said.

Val Pike, a spokeswoman for Whitehorse General Hospital, said there have been few cases of heat-related injuries, and only a couple of people were brought into the hospital Thursday afternoon for possible heat stroke.