Heat warnings issued in Ontario, nights will offer little relief
Several days of muggy weather will settle over Ontario before a big change arrives to end the month
Widespread heat warnings are in effect across southern Ontario as a multi-day heat event builds across the region.
Expect the combination of heat and humidity to reach dangerous levels beginning Sunday and lasting through Tuesday.
Heat affects everyone. Vulnerable people are especially susceptible to heat-related illnesses, including those with chronic health conditions and folks living without air conditioning. Be sure to check on your elderly family, friends, and neighbours.
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Heat builds into Ontario to start the week
A strong ridge of high pressure building south of the border will exert its influence over southern Ontario to end the weekend. Expect high heat and humidity to arrive Sunday and continue into Tuesday.
Air temperatures will climb into the lower 30s, with excess humidity pushing feels-like values into the lower 40s for most of the region.
Humidity hampers your body’s ability to cool off through sweat; prolonged exposure without sufficient relief can lead to medical emergencies like heat stroke.
Making matters worse is that overnight temperatures will remain 5 to 7 degrees above seasonal for the duration of the heat event, preventing any significant relief at night.
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Temperatures overnight Monday will only dip to 24°C in Windsor, 22°C in Toronto, and 22°C in Ottawa.
The combination of uncomfortably warm days and stuffy nights will put stress on vulnerable people, especially those living without reliable access to air conditioning. Healthy individuals can also develop heat-related illnesses by overexerting outdoors on a hot day.
“Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others,” Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in its heat warning for the region. “Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water.”
Relief from the heat is on the horizon. A strong cold front expected to push across southern Ontario will spark a fresh round of active weather throughout the region.
Below-seasonal temperatures will sweep into the province behind this front, ushering in a cooler stretch of weather to round out July and kick off August.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across Ontario.
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