Heat Warnings Issued for Ontario and Quebec

Anticipating severe heat and humidity this coming week, the Canadian weather service has issued a heat warning for specific parts of the eastern region. According to a CTV News article, meteorologists predict that temperatures could reach the mid-30s by Wednesday. With the humidity, the temperature will feel more like 40C throughout the daytime.

The Canadian weather service states that some people are at a higher risk of suffering from heat illnesses, specifically children, senior citizens, people who work outdoors, homeless people and individuals with breathing difficulty and heart conditions. The Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit identifies symptoms of heat illness as: headaches, dizziness, vomiting, extreme thirst and rapid breathing.

Environment Canada expects the hot weather to persist until Thursday, so--in the interest of safety--the following areas are operating with a heat warning in full effect:

• Parts of Toronto, including North York
• Newmarket and Georgina
• Uxbridge, Beaverton and North Durham
• Ottawa
• Montreal and Laval

If you find yourself in any of these areas during this heat warning, it is important to stay hydrated and limit your time in the sun. To avoid dehydration and falling victim to a heat-related illness, drink plenty of water and try to stay in the shade. If possible, spend time indoors in air-conditioned rooms and be sure to wear sunscreen while outside.

Some of the cities and towns mentioned above have set up cooling stations for people to hydrate and catch some shade/air-conditioning. Please visit your local town/city's website for more information about these cooling areas. We ask that you are mindful of this heat warning and use all of the safety tips at your disposal this week. Stay cool!