Toronto under humidex advisory & heat alert

Toronto is under a heat alert as the city braces for what could be the “hottest day of the summer.”

“Get ready for a hot one,” CityNews weather specialist Frank Ferragine said Tuesday morning.

At 5:30 a.m., it was already 18 C in the city, and the humidity was at 88 per cent. Ferragine warned that by the afternoon, the humidity could make it feel like 40 C or even warmer.

“It could even be a record-breaking day. The old record of 34.8 C was set back in 2002. Today’s high is 34 C, feeling like 44 C,” Ferragine said.

At 3 p.m., the mercury was 33.2 C at Pearson airport, CityNews meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai said.

Toronto Public Health issued a heat alert Tuesday morning. Dr. David McKeown, the city’s medical officer of health, wants people to look out for those who may be more vulnerable to the heat, like seniors, the chronically ill and children.

680News meteorologist Jill Taylor said the last time Toronto issued a heat alert in September was on Sept. 3, 2011.

Toronto issued an extreme heat alert on Sept. 1, 2010, which was the first time in a decade that the city issued an extreme heat alert in September, she said.

The warm conditions prompted Environment Canada to issue a humidex advisory on Monday.

Hot and humid air building over the American Midwest will move into southern Ontario on Tuesday with the mercury expected to hit 34-35 C. But it’ll feel more like 40 C or higher with the humidity, the weather agency said.

“In fact, the high humidex readings may make it feel like the hottest day of the summer, although breezy conditions should help alleviate the extreme heat,” the agency said in the humidex advisory.

Torontonians can also expect “a very warm” Tuesday night.

The forecaster said the hot and humid conditions are expected to ease on Wednesday over eastern Ontario, but the humidity will likely remain near 40 C in the GTA.

The temperature is expected to return to “near seasonal values” by Thursday.

Click here for the full weather forecast.

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