City ensures all outdoor pools will remain open after heat warning issued for Toronto

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Toronto and the rest of the GTA as the humidex is expected to soar to 40 over the weekend.

The national weather agency says the temperature will climb to the mid 30s C during the day, with overnight lows in the mid 20s C “providing little relief from the heat.”

The hot and humid stretch is expected to arrive Saturday and stick around until Sunday night.

Environment Canada is reminding the public to take proactive steps to stay safe during the extreme heat.

“Determine if you or others around you are at greater risk of heat illness. Check on older adults, those living alone and other at-risk people in-person or on the phone multiple times a day,” the warning states.

“Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water.”

Officials advise to wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing made of breathable fabrics like cotton, and use a wet cloth or spray bottle to dampen skin and cool down. Stay in the shade or indoors during peak sun (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.), use sunscreen, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, limit physical activity, and take frequent breaks in a cool spot.

The latest stretch of extreme heat comes as temperature records broke just last week, when the city scorched the heat record for June 23, reaching 36 C, the hottest temperature recorded since 1983.

City to ensure all 58 outdoor pools remain open

The City of Toronto says its Heat Relief Network will operate this weekend for as long as the heat warning is in effect. That means more than 500 cool spaces across the city will be open for people to seek relief from the heat, including libraries, community centres and pools.

Five air-conditioned civic buildings will be open to the public starting at 8 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. each night. They include North York Civic Centre, Scarborough Civic Centre, Etobicoke Civic Centre, York Civic Centre and East York Civic Centre.

As well, starting at noon Saturday, the Metro Hall Rotunda will also be available as a 24/7 cool space.

The city also says its 58 outdoor pools will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. this weekend, with extended hours until 11:45 p.m. at the following pools:

• Alex Duff Memorial Pool at Christie Pits Park, 779 Crawford St.
• Fairbank Memorial Swimming Pool, 2213 Dufferin St.
• McGregor Park Community Centre, 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.
• Monarch Park, 115 Felstead Ave.
• North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Ave. W.
• Smithfield Park, 175 Mount Olive Dr.
• Sunnyside Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool, 1755 Lake Shore Blvd West
• Halbert Park (until 9 p.m.), 24 Rockwood Dr.

City officials say new protocols have been introduced to ensure outdoor pools remain fully operational after some were forced to close during the last heat event in June. The additional measures include a 30 per cent increase in staff this weekend, installing fan and shade structures for lifeguards at outdoor pools and increased wellness checks by EMS for high priority locations.

Alongside the City’s pools, 140 splash pads will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and all 85 wading pools are open.

Ten supervised beaches are also open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Check here to see if a beach is safe for swimming based on daily water quality tests.

Weekend heat peaks Sunday, seasonal temps return next week

Temperatures are forecast to reach a high of 30 C on Saturday with a humidex of 40. That will make conditions feel hot and sticky throughout the day.

There is a 30 per cent chance of afternoon showers and a risk of a thunderstorm. By the evening, the chance for rain drops to 20 per cent. The low will sit around 22 C in Toronto.

Sunday brings the hottest weather of the weekend, with temperatures expected to reach a high of 32 C, with a humidex value in the low 40s.

That rise in temperatures and humidity could lead to isolated thunderstorms for the day. There’s a 30 per cent chance of showers in the afternoon. That increases to 40 per cent as temperatures dip to a low of 21 C Sunday evening.

Looking ahead to next week, temperatures look to be more seasonal. Monday is forecast to be hot with humidex values in the 30s before temperatures return to the mid-20s for the rest of the week.

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With files from CityNews staff and The Canadian Press