Toronto is bracing for a heat wave this week with Environment and Climate Change Canada issuing a yellow warning at 5:22 a.m. on Monday morning.
The agency is predicting maximum temperatures of 30-37 C and minimum temperatures of 20-24 C, with humidex values reaching 38-45 C.
The heat wave is expected to begin on Monday and last until either Wednesday or Thursday evening, with Tuesday marked as the peak of the heat event.
Maximum temperatures are expected to reach near 37 C in some areas of southwestern Ontario, around the Greater Golden Horseshoe and eastern Ontario.
In response to the heat wave, the City of Toronto has made cooling spaces available across the city, including a 24-hour cooling space at 136 Spadina Rd.
Additionally, Toronto water trailers are available at Nathan Phillips Square, Mel Lastman Square, East York Civic Centre, and Barbara Hall Park during the heat warning.
There are also 247 park washrooms and over 700 water fountains activated for the heat season, and up to 113 contingency spaces will be available within the shelter system for Central Intake referrals.
Civic centres in Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, York, and Metro Hall Civic Centres will operate on extended hours from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the heat warning.
The North York Civic Centre will operate on extended hours from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
All city-run camps will continue as scheduled during the heat event, with modified activities to ensure children's exposure to extreme heat is limited.
Toronto Public Health reported 39 heat-related emergency department visits during the city's first heat wave from June 30 to July 4, with the highest heat-related hospital ER visits on a single day reaching 15 on July 2.
The Weather Network advises checking on older adults, those living alone, and other at-risk people in person or on the phone multiple times a day during the heat wave.
Residents are also advised to watch for early signs of heat exhaustion, including headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine, and intense fatigue.
Call 911 or your emergency health provider if you or someone around you is showing signs of heat stroke, and never leave people, especially children, or pets inside a parked vehicle.
