The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is under an extreme heat warning as students head back to school Tuesday morning.
“A hot and humid air mass is expected through Wednesday,” Environment Canada said on its website. “Humidex values and daytime highs will be very atypical of early September,” it continued.
According to the weather agency, daytime highs are expected to be 29 to 34 C but it will feel like 40 with the humidity. Later in the evening, there will be some relief as temperatures will drop to 18 to 22 C.
The heat will continue on Wednesday with an expected high of 32 C and a humidex of 40. It will be sunny in the morning then a mix of sun and cloud with a 40 per cent chance of showers in the afternoon.
On Thursday, temperatures will cool down as the expected high is 35 C with a 60 per cent chance of showers.
The heat warning comes after August temperatures did not surpass 30 C, according to weather experts.
Environment Canada is reminding the public to drink plenty of water, check on loved ones, never leave people or pets inside parked vehicles and take regularly scheduled breaks if one is an outdoor worker.
“Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high risk category,” Environment Canada says.
In addition, residents should watch out for the effects of heat illness. Risks are greater for “young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.”
HOW TDSB IS COPING WITH THE HEAT
Ahead of the sweltering conditions, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has set up a heat plan to manage the heat and keep its staff and students comfortable. This includes the following:
- Using fans to provide air movement, where possible.
- Keeping lights and computers turned off, where possible.
- Keeping doors and windows open.
- Rotating staff and students into cooler/air conditioned areas within the school, where available.
- Encouraging students to drink water.
- Reducing strenuous activities, including gym and sports activities.
Depending on the school, staff could also decide to have recess indoors or cancel outdoor activities.
WHICH TDSB SCHOOLS HAVE AIR CONDITIONING?
The TDSB website states out of its 583 schools, only 177 are largely air conditioned, 243 have cooling centres and the remaining schools have temporary cooling areas, typically located in the library.
The TDSB says the cost to install air conditioning at all its schools would be hundreds of millions of dollars, plus maintenance fees.
“…The installation of full building air conditioning at all remaining schools is not financially possible – especially given that the TDSB currently faces a repair backlog of approximately $3.7 billion,” the board explained.
