OTTAWA — Environment Canada has hoisted a fresh heat warning for Southern Ontario beginning Thursday, July 24, as afternoon temperatures soar toward 35 °C (95 °F) and the humidex peaks near 44. The alert blankets communities along Lake Ontario from St. Catharines through Toronto, where the merging of sweltering air and elevated moisture is expected to press residents into another exhausting stretch of summer weather.
Forecasters anticipate slightly gentler daytime readings by Friday, yet overnight lows will hover around 23 °C (73 °F), denying homes without cooling systems the usual nocturnal reprieve. The service cautions that two straight days exceeding 30 °C (86 °F), paired with humidex values above 40, meet its threshold for declaring prolonged heat episodes.
Environment Canada notes that last June produced several record-setting spikes across the province, setting the stage for the present surge. The agency adds that repeated exposure to such conditions can strain human health, particularly for older adults and individuals managing chronic ailments.
In tandem with the meteorological bulletin, Public Health Ontario has reiterated its standard hot-weather messaging, which typically highlights regular water intake well before thirst develops, scaled-back physical effort during the day’s fiercest warmth, preference for shaded or climate-controlled interiors, and vigilant attention to children or pets inside parked vehicles.
With the possibility of extended oppressive air lingering into the weekend, local authorities encourage the public to remain attuned to further community updates and evolving forecasts.
