Significant heat, humidity will soon infiltrate southern Ontario
The northern edge of a U.S. heat dome will impact Ontario next week, with peak temperatures reaching the 30s and feels-like values into the 40s
A major heat wave building south of the border will extend its influence to Canada heading into Canada Day festivities.
Temperatures will climb well into the 30s during the peak of the event by the middle of next week, with humidex values easily reaching into the 40s.
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Many folks have outdoor plans for Canada Day next week. Excessive heat is a sneaky danger. Even a relatively healthy individual can succumb to heat-related illnesses without proper precautions.
Significant U.S. heat with Canadian implications
A heat dome will develop over the eastern half of the United States beginning this weekend and lasting all throughout next week.
Widespread feels-like values in the 40s will be common east of the Rockies, with actual air temperatures approaching 40°C possible in locations like North Carolina.
The northern edge of this formidable ridge of high pressure will extend into the Great Lakes region starting Sunday and lasting through at least the middle of the week.
Winds spiralling around this centre of high pressure will push hot and humid conditions into southern Ontario, with the highest temperatures peaking on or around Canada Day on Wednesday.
Downtown Toronto should only surpass 30°C by a degree or two on Canada Day, but communities away from the lake will see considerable heating.
Pearson International Airport will have a forecast of 35°C and a feels-like value of 45, likely to challenge the site’s hottest Canada Day on record.
A setup like this is also favourable for organized clusters of thunderstorms to rotate around the edge of the high-pressure system much like train cars on railroad tracks. The exact location and strength of each day’s storm activity remains uncertain this far out.
A lake breeze will be music to peoples’ ears for the coming week as temperatures along the Great Lakes shorelines could be 5°C to 8°C cooler than 20 km inland during peak afternoon heat.
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Heat safety is vital
Extreme heat claims more lives around the world than any other type of severe weather.
Everyone is susceptible to heat-related illnesses without taking proper precautions, such as frequent breaks, adequate hydration, and air conditioning.
The compounding stress of hot days followed by muggy nights can be especially hard on vulnerable populations like the elderly, those with chronic health conditions, and folks who live without access to air conditioning. Keep in mind that certain medications can lower your body’s heat tolerance.