Hot, muggy day on the way as stifling GTA heat wave continues

A round of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms will make its way through Toronto and the GTA on Wednesday evening. Temperatures and humidity will rise by the end of the week as a heat warning remains in place.

Toronto and the GTA remain under a heat warning amid a multi-day heat wave expected to bring the hottest humidex of the year. Environment Canada issued the warning on Tuesday afternoon.

The guaranteed high for Thursday is expected to be 31 C, feeling more like 40 with the humidity.

The highest humidex of the year is expected to come on Friday when it will feel over 40.

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“Minimum temperatures in the low twenties will provide little relief from the heat,” reads the heat warning. “Areas near the lakes can expect to remain cooler than areas inland.”

The City of Toronto says seven outdoor pools will remain open until 11:45 p.m. Thursday night. They include Alex Duff Memorial Pool, Giovanni Caboto Outdoor Pool, McGregor Park Community Centre, Monarch Park, North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, Smithfield Park Outdoor Pool and Sunnyside Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool.

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Environment Canada shared tips on how to best manage rising summer temperatures. They include drinking plenty of water, staying in a cool place, checking in on older family, friends and neighbours and ensuring they are cool and drinking water.

“Never, ever leave pets or people in a hot car,” says CityNews meteorologist Jill Taylor. “A car can heat up to 40 degrees in just 10 minutes. It’s extremely dangerous.”

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Cooler conditions are expected to arrive by the weekend.

Strong thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain moved through southern Ontario on Wednesday night.

Certain regions — like Hamilton, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Windsor — were under severe thunderstorm watches, as Environment Canada warned for rainfall amounts of 50 to 70 mm in those areas.

A tornado warning had popped up for parts of southern Ontario but was quickly ended as the storms moved through.