Toronto and the GTA are under a prolonged heat warning that will likely stretch well into next week.
Environment Canada says all of southern Ontario will experience hot and humid conditions starting Friday, with Saturday being the hottest day as humidex values climb to between 35 and 40.
The national weather service says it could be Thursday before there is any relief from the heat and humidity.
“This is not record-breaking daytime highs, you’ve got to hit 34 to 35 in order to start breaking temperature records. The problem is the overnight lows, they don’t even cool to below 20 for the next week or so,” said CityNews Meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai. “Overnight lows of 22, 23, and 24 is going to feel like 30 at the coolest points of the night as the humidity continues right into next week.”
“It’s really not until Saturday of next week, even late Friday night, that we will start getting into this drier air mass and more of a fresher feel out there.”
The City of Toronto says 57 of its 58 outdoor pools will be operating with extended hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., while the eight pools listed below will be open until 11:45 p.m. for as long as the heat warning is in effect:
- Alex Duff Memorial Pool at Christie Pits Park
- Fairbank Memorial Swimming Pool
- Halbert Park (until 9 p.m.)
- McGregor Park Community Centre
- Monarch Park
- North Toronto Memorial Community Centre
- Smithfield Park
- Sunnyside Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool
Alongside the City’s pools, more than 140 splash pads will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and 84 of the City’s 85 wading pools are open.
Ten supervised beaches are also open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. You can check the water quality status at those beaches on the City of Toronto’s website.
Residents can also find relief from the heat and humidity at more than 500 cool spaces across the city, including libraries, community centres, and the following air-conditioned civic buildings:
- North York Civic Centre – From 7:30 a.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. weekends until 9:30 p.m.
- Scarborough Civic Centre – From 8 a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. weekends until 9:30 p.m.
- Etobicoke Civic Centre – From 8 a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. weekends until 9:30 p.m.
- York Civic Centre – From 8 a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. weekends until 9:30 p.m.
- East York Civic Centre – From 8 a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. weekends until 9:30 p.m.
- Metro Hall lobby area (Rotunda) – 24/7
Health officials caution that the warm, humid temperatures present health risks for older adults, infants and young children, pregnant women, people with physical and/or mental illnesses, and people with disabilities or mobility issues.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include headache, nausea, dizziness, and intense fatigue.
Toronto health officials say there were at least 42 heat-related emergency room visits during the last heat event at the end of June.
“Drink plenty of water regularly, even before you feel thirsty, to decrease your risk of dehydration,” Environment Canada warned. “Never leave people, particularly children, or pets inside a parked vehicle.”
The heat warning currently extends from Windsor in the south up to Barrie in the north and Ottawa in the west.
This is the third heat warning issued for southern Ontario this summer, including extreme heat that broke records in June.
