Dangerously smoky air in some places as heat warnings persist
Smoke from northern Ontario wildfires drifts south
Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for almost all of the Ottawa-Gatineau region because of wildfire smoke drifting south from northern Ontario. A lengthy heat warning persists in some of the same places.
The air quality alert covers all of eastern Ontario and says poor conditions could last into Tuesday for some areas. One that's only for Monday is in place for most of the Outaouais, except for its eastern edge.
The Air Quality Health Index at 3 p.m. on Monday was high in Cornwall and down to moderate in Belleville, Kingston and downtown Ottawa.
The forecast maximum in Gatineau, Que. for the day was seven.
The heat warning began late Friday morning and now covers nearly all of eastern Ontario, with the exception of Prince Edward County and western communities such as Deep River and Bancroft.
There's also a heat warning for Gatineau and Grenville-sur-la-Rouge in western Quebec.
The alert says the hot weather is expected to ease Thursday.
Daytime highs are expected to range from 31 to 35 C and with humidity, feel around 40. Nighttime lows may not dip far below 20 C which means little relief from sweaty conditions.
Ottawa topped 32 C on Saturday, with its humidex getting into the low 40s.
Staying safe
The wildfire smoke may pose health risks, Environment Canada said, advising people in affected areas to limit time outdoors and to consider rescheduling outdoor activities.
It warned of mild symptoms including eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a cough and noted people over 65, pregnant people, children, people with pre-existing health conditions and people who work outdoors are more likely to be impacted by air pollution.
Very high air quality risks such as those in Belleville Monday morning should cause people with health problems to avoid strenuous outdoor activities and the rest of people to reduce them. A high risk means at-risk people should take it easy outside and others should consider doing the same if they start to feel unwell.
The ongoing wildfires in northern Ontario have forced several First Nations to evacuate. On Sunday, the Pikangikum First Nation had been without power for more than 24 hours and was beginning to evacuate its most vulnerable community members.
In the extreme heat, Health Canada recommends staying cool and staying hydrated, especially for vulnerable people or people with underlying health issues.
WATCH | Advice for extreme heat:
That can mean everything from drinking lots of water and planning outdoor activities for cooler times, to preparing meals that don't require ovens and keeping nearby air-conditioned spaces in mind if needed.
Watch for signs of heat exhaustion — like a headache, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat — and get to a cool place where you can drink water. Heat stroke, which includes confusion and very hot or red skin, is a medical emergency requiring a 911 call.
More resources may be available through your municipality. Ottawa, for example, has a map of public and other places to cool off and Russell to its east is opening cooling centres starting Tuesday.