Toronto’s weather is in for a scorcher. An official heat warning is in effect, as dangerously high temperatures are expected to grip the city, beginning Thursday and potentially continuing through the weekend.
Environment Canada issued the warning at 5 a.m. on Thursday morning. It’s expected to be the hottest day on Thursday, with daytime highs reaching 35 C and humidex values soaring to 44 C. Overnight lows will offer little relief, remaining between 20 C and 23 C.
Friday will bring slightly cooler daytime highs around 30 C, but humidex values will still hover near 40 C. The uncomfortable overnight warmth is expected to persist, with the heat event potentially lasting into the weekend.
Environment Canada is urging residents to take precautions. While extreme heat can impact anyone, it poses the most significant risk to seniors, young children, those with chronic medical conditions, and people living alone. Officials recommend checking in on vulnerable individuals, ideally in person or by phone, multiple times a day.
It’s also important to monitor symptoms for heat exhaustion, such as headache, nausea, dizziness, muscle cramps, extreme thirst, fatigue, and dark yellow urine. If you experience these symptoms, stop all activity, move to a cool place, and hydrate right away.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs include confusion, red or hot skin, vomiting, or sudden loss of consciousness. Call 911 immediately and begin cooling the person with cold water or ice packs until help arrives.
Tips to stay safe during the heat
- Drink water frequently before you feel thirsty.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day.
- Wear light, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Use fans or air conditioning, and keep blinds or curtains closed to block sunlight.
- If your home is too hot, head to a public cooling centre, library, community centre, or a shaded park.
- Never leave anyone, especially children or pets, inside a parked vehicle.
Toronto’s heat response plan includes designated cooling spaces throughout the city.
Stay cool, stay hydrated, and keep an eye on those around you. For updates, continue to monitor Environment Canada as this heat wave unfolds.
Love this? Check out our Narcity noticeboard for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!
AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of Narcity’s Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
