Hottest day of the year in Toronto?

The GTA is riding a heat wave and Wednesday is shaping up to be the hottest day of the year, with temperatures pegged in the mid-thirties and the humidex near 40.

The city is under an extreme heat alert – the first one of the year – and an Environment Canada warning remains in effect for Toronto for a third straight day.

Wednesday’s forecast calls for mainly sunny skies with a high of 34 C, but it will feel like 39 C with the humidity, 680 NEWS meteorologist Jill Taylor said. CityNews weather specialist Frank Ferragine agreed.

Although this could be the hottest day of the year, the temperature may not be record-breaking at this point, Taylor said on Monday. A record high of 35.6 C was set in Toronto on July 29, 1949.

The warmest day of the year so far was on Tuesday, with a temperature of 32.6 C recorded at Pearson International Airport.

The air conditioning is on overdrive due to the sweltering heat and Toronto Hydro is asking people to limit the strain on the utility’s equipment.

The utility said there has been a surge in demand and with more sizzling temperatures on the way, customers are being asked to ease up on their electricity use.

Environment Canada issued a heat warning for Toronto and the GTA on Monday. Environment Canada issues a heat warning in Ontario when the temperature is expected to reach 30 C or more with a humidex of 40 or more.

The hot weather also prompted the city’s medical officer of health to issue an extreme heat alert for Toronto.

During a heat alert, the public is encouraged to call or visit family, friends and neighbours, especially isolated adults and seniors who are at greater risk of suffering from heat-related illness, to make sure they are cool and drinking plenty of fluids.

In Toronto, when the forecast calls for a high greater than 31 C and the humidex more than 40 – over a two-day span – with a low that is greater than 20 C, the city will issue a heat alert. If the same conditions are in store for three days in a row, an extreme heat alert will be issued.

So far this year, the city has issued four heat alerts.

So how can you keep your cool in the intense summer heat? Here’s what the city advises:

• Drink lots of cool water even before you feel thirsty
• Go to an air conditioned place such as a shopping mall
• Wear loose, light-coloured, breathable clothing and when outdoors wear a wide-brimmed hat
• Reschedule or plan outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day

 

The following cooling centres are open during the extreme heat alert:

• Metro Hall – 55 John St. (This cooling centre opens at 11 a.m. on the day the alert is issued and remains open 24 hours a day for the duration of the Extreme Heat Alert.)
• East York Civic Centre – 850 Coxwell Ave. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• North York Civic Centre – 5100 Yonge St. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Driftwood Community Centre – 4401 Jane St. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Etobicoke Civic Centre – 399 The West Mall (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• McGregor Community Centre – 2231 Lawrence Ave. E. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Centennial Park Community Centre – 1967 Ellesmere Rd. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

 

The city has also extended its hours at the following eight pools until 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday, weather permitting, to help people cool off:

• Alex Duff Memorial Pool, 779 Crawford Ave.
• Alexandra Park Pool, 275 Bathurst St.
• Cummer Park Community Centre Pool, 6000 Leslie St.
• Giovanni Caboto Outdoor Pool, 1369 St. Clair Ave. W.
• McGregor Park Outdoor Pool, 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.
• Monarch Park Pool, 115 Felstead Ave.
• Sunnyside-Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool, 1755 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
• Smithfield Outdoor Pool, 175 Mount Olive Dr.

 

Click here for more tips on how to beat the heat.

People are also reminded, once again, to not leave a person or pet inside a parked car or in direct sunlight.