Extreme heat lingers across Toronto, GTA
Posted July 3, 2026 8:24 am.
Last Updated July 3, 2026 9:55 pm.
The intense heat isn’t done with Toronto and the GTA yet as the first weekend of July approaches and severe thunderstorm warnings and watches have been issued Friday.
The region is still under an orange heat warning with a high of 34 C is in the forecast, but it will feel like a sweltering 44 with the humidity.
680 NewsRadio meteorologist Carl Lam says the GTA is also in for some unsettled weather.
“Some heavy downpours, thunder, lightning, also some hail, and some strong damaging wind gusts not out of the question,” he said.
Most of the GTHA including Toronto, York Region, Peel Region, and Durham Region, were under various severe thunderstorm watches and warnings throughtout the afternoon, with the potential for more than 30 millimetres of rain in some areas.
Environment Canada says wind gusts up to 100 km/h and up to ping pong ball sized hail are also possible into the evening.
Extreme heat blankets the GTA
Lam said the orange heat warning will likely continue into Saturday but the temperature is expected to cool off on Sunday, along with a drop in the humidity.
A high of 30 C is in store for Saturday with a humidex of 41. It is expected to be mostly cloudy on Sunday with a chance for periods of rain and a high of 26 C.
Earlier this week, a record was set on Canada Day after temperatures hit 36 C at Toronto Pearson Airport, breaking the old high of 35.6 set in 2002.
The City of Toronto has extended hours for some pools and cool spaces to help residents cope with the heat. A 24-hour cooling space has also been opened at 136 Spadina Rd.
Extended hours are available at the following locations during the heat warning:
- Scarborough, Etobicoke, York, East York Civic Centres, as well as Metro Hall: 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- North York Civic Centre: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The following eight pools will be open until 11:45 p.m. during the heat warning:
- Alex Duff Pool, 779 Crawford St.
- Giovanni Caboto Pool, 1367 St. Clair Ave. W.
- Heron Park Pool, 292 Manse Rd.
- McGregor Park Pool, 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.
- Monarch Park Pool, 115 Felstead Ave.
- North Toronto Memorial, 200 Eglinton Ave.
- Smithfield Park Pool, 175 Mount Olive Dr.
- Sunnyside Gus Ryder Pool, 1755 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
