Heat warning in place for Toronto as city swelters under 'dangerously hot and humid conditions'
Take action to protect yourself, Environment Canada says
Toronto and its surrounding areas remained under a heat warning on Sunday as "dangerously hot and humid conditions" persisted in the region, according to Environment Canada.
Extreme heat is expected to continue until Tuesday night.
"The first significant heat event of the season with dangerously hot and humid conditions is expected to continue into the week," Environment Canada said in its warning.
Daytime highs are forecast to be between 33 and 36 C. Humidex values, which reflect how hot it feels, are forecast to range between 42 and 46, the government agency said.
Overnight lows are forecast to be between 22 and 25 C, which the weather agency said will provide "little relief from the heat."
The warning is in effect for the following areas: Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Newmarket, Georgina, northern York Region, Durham Region, Pickering, Oshawa, Uxbridge, Beaverton, Simcoe, Halton Hills, Milton, Barrie, Collingwood and Hillsdale.
Extreme heat is expected to continue until Tuesday night.
"A cold front is expected to push through the region late Tuesday, but there is some uncertainty with how far south this front will get. Should it remain farther north, the heat event may continue Wednesday, primarily for southwestern Ontario and the GTA," Environment Canada said.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow urged residents to take care of themselves while heat event continues.
"I am urging all residents to stay cool, drink lots of water and look after each other," Chow said Saturday at an unrelated city news conference.
People are advised to watch for symptoms of heat stroke, which is a medical emergency, in themselves and others. Symptoms can include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness.
"While you wait for medical attention, try to cool the person by moving them to a cool place, removing extra clothing, applying cold water or ice packs around the body," Environment Canada advised.
The weather agency also advised people to drink water often, even before feeling thirsty, and close blinds and open windows if the outside is cooler than inside.
"If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library or shaded park," the heat warning says.
People are also advised to check in regularly on those at greater risk of heat illness, including the elderly and those living alone.
Signs of heat exhaustion may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. If you experience these symptoms, Environment Canada advises stopping your activity and drinking water.
When going outside, people are advised to limit exposure to sun and heat by planning activities during the coolest parts of the day and wearing lightweight, light-coloured, loose fitting clothing.
City of Toronto pools set extended weekend hours
Some of the city's outdoor pools have extended hours this weekend due to heat warning, staying open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the city said in a news release on Saturday.
Some had intermittent closures on Sunday because of extreme humidex levels exceeding 45, the city said.
The following pools will be open until 11:45 p.m. Sunday:
- Alex Duff Pool, 779 Crawford St.
- Fairbank Memorial Swimming Pool, 50 Keywest Ave.
- Sunnyside Park/Gus Ryder Pool, 1755 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
- McGregor Park, 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.
- Monarch Park, 115 Felstead Ave.
- North Toronto Outdoor Pool, 200 Eglinton Ave W.
- Smithfield Park, 175 Mount Olive Dr.
- Halbert Pool, 24 Rockwood Dr. (open until 9 p.m. only)
The city's splash pads are operating daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 15 wading pools are open this weekend from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
There are more than 500 cool spaces across the city — including libraries, community centres and pools — where people can find relief during the extreme heat. A full list of cool spaces is available on the city's website.
The city said it is conducting enhanced outreach efforts to people experiencing homelessness, including through referrals to shelters and distributing water bottles. It said it will deliver 14,000 water bottles to outreach staff on Saturday.
Additional staff will focus exclusively on distributing water bottles to people experiencing homelessness, including those in encampments.
Chow said three of the city's HTO To Go water trailers, which provide free tap water, were scheduled to be located at Nathan Phillips Square, Trinity Bellwoods Park and Sankofa Square on Sunday.
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