Summer Heat Wave Hits Toronto with Record Highs Expected

Heat Wave Alert: Toronto Braces for Prolonged High Temperatures

Summary:

• Seasonal Shift: Summer begins this week, bringing higher-than-normal temperatures across most of Canada.
• Heat Wave: Toronto is set to experience a prolonged heat wave starting today, with dangerously hot and humid conditions expected throughout the week.
• Temperature Details:
  • Daytime highs: 30-35°C, feeling like 40-45°C with humidex.
  • Nighttime lows: 20-23°C, feeling like 26-30°C with humidex.
• Health Risks:
  • Greater risks for older adults, infants/young children, pregnant women, those with physical/mental illnesses, and people with disabilities/mobility issues.
  • Never leave vulnerable individuals or pets in parked vehicles.
  • Watch for heat illness symptoms: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
• Heat Relief Strategy:
  • City of Toronto opens cool spaces such as public libraries, civic centres, community centres, senior centres, swimming pools, malls, and YMCA centres.
• Air Quality Concerns:
  • Hot, humid air may deteriorate air quality, pushing the air quality health index into the high-risk category.
• Climate Change Impact:
  • ECCC highlights the increasing frequency of extreme heat and wildfires due to climate change.
  • A new weather attribution system helps identify the link between extreme heat events and human-caused climate change.
• Tools:
  • Torontonians can download the WeatherCAN app for weather alerts.
    Recommendation: Stay informed, keep cool, and look out for vulnerable individuals and pets during this heat wave.