Toronto Topples Temperature Record As Extreme Heat Alert Continues

Summer isn’t here yet – well, not officially – but it’s easy to be fooled by the skyrocketing temperatures and brilliant sunshine.

For the third day in a row, Toronto is under a weather warning. The city continued an extreme heat alert because of the soaring mercury.

It was expected that we’d see a high of 32C in the Big Smoke on Wednesday – and we did, blowing past the 30.6C record set back in 1944.

There are a few precautions you can take to beat the heat:

  • Drink lots of water and natural fruit juices
  • Go to air conditioned places, including shopping malls or one of many local libraries and community centres located in each neighbourhood.
  • Stay out of the sun.
  • Reduce strenuous physical outdoor activity, especially between 11am and 4pm
  • Never leave the elderly, children or pets unattended in a car.

Toronto Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David McKeown, also advises that you check on friends and relatives, especially those who are living alone.

If there isn’t air conditioning in your home, you can check out one of the seven cooling centres that the city opens during extreme heat alerts:

  • Metro Hall – 55 John St. (24 hours)
  • East York Civic Centre – 850 Coxwell Ave. (11am to 7pm)
  • North York Civic Centre – 5100 Yonge St. (11am to 7pm)
  • Driftwood Community Centre – 4401 Jane St. (11am to 7pm)
  • Etobicoke Olympium – 590 Rathburn Rd. (11am to 7pm)
  • McGregor Community Centre – 2231 Lawrence Ave. E. (11am to 7pm)
  • Centennial Park Community Centre -1967 Ellesmere Rd. (11am to 7pm)

During a heat alert, the Canadian Red Cross Heat Information Line is open for those who need assistance or have heat-related inquiries 416-480-2615 between 9am and 9m.

Finally, check out the Air Quality Health Index for hourly pollution readings.

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