What to know
- Toronto is in its third day of an extreme heat wave, with temperatures reaching the high 30s and humidex values in the mid-40s.
- Environment Canada says a hot, humid air mass from the United States is responsible for the dangerous conditions.
- A cold front is expected to arrive Friday night, bringing some relief, although warm weather will continue into the weekend.
- The heat has already impacted events, including the cancellation of the public FIFA World Cup match broadcast at Nathan Phillips Square.
As much of Toronto continues to endure a scorching heat wave, many are asking the same question: What’s causing these dangerously high temperatures?
The city is now in its third day of an extreme heat event, with Thursday expected to be the hottest day of the stretch. Temperatures are forecast to climb into the high 30s, with humidex values making it feel like the mid-40s.
Environment Canada has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for Toronto and much of southern Ontario, saying the sweltering conditions are being driven by a weather system that has pushed north from the United States.
“It’s basically just a really warm and humid air mass that has been affecting most of the U.S. for quite some time now, and it has continued to build up and move north,” Kate Leclerc, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, told Now Toronto.
Relief is on the way, but not for long
Leclerc says a southerly flow is continuing to push the hot, humid air into southern Ontario, allowing the heat to linger through the end of the week.
She says Thursday and Friday are expected to be the peak of the heat wave before a cold front moves through Friday night.
“Starting Friday night, there will be a cold front that will pass that will help ease it a little bit. Although there’s going to be a bit of relief over the weekend, not too much,” she said.
While temperatures are expected to ease slightly over the weekend, highs are still forecast to remain in the 30s, though with lower humidity than what Toronto is currently experiencing.
Heat stretches across much of Ontario and Quebec
The heat wave isn’t just affecting Toronto.
According to Leclerc, the hot and humid air mass stretches across much of southern Ontario and into Quebec, with even northern parts of both provinces experiencing unusually warm conditions.
“Even northern portions of Ontario and Quebec, except in a lesser manner. So, the temperatures and the humidity are just slightly below what we have here in southern Ontario and southern Quebec,” she said.
Environment Canada is reminding people to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day, seek air-conditioned or cool spaces when possible, and watch for signs of heat-related illness.
Extreme heat forces changes to FIFA fan events
The dangerous temperatures are also affecting major events across the city.
The City of Toronto has cancelled the public broadcast of Thursday’s FIFA World Cup match between Portugal and Croatia at Nathan Phillips Square because of the extreme heat and the resources required to safely manage crowds during the heat wave.
The match, which features Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, will still be played at Toronto Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
