Environment Canada has issued a heat wave warning, which is expected to last until Thursday morning.
The warning covers most of Ontario and parts of Quebec.
Temperatures in London are expected to fluctuate between the high 20 °C and low 30 °C, with the humidex ranging from the high 30 °C to the low 40 °C.
Temperatures will drop into the low 20s and reach high teens in the evening and night.
As the temperature rises, the air quality is also expected to deteriorate.
It is expected that on Thursday, the temperature will again fall to the seasonal average and the maximum temperature will reach 26 degrees Celsius.
Trudy Kidd, a meteorologist at Canada’s Environment Warning Preparedness, warned that extreme heat poses a greater risk to older adults, young children and people with chronic illnesses.
“(The elderly) are often faced with complicating factors that can put them at risk during extreme heat events. They can have things like chronic diseases, medications that interfere with the cooling system,” she explains.
“People with chronic diseases, breathing difficulties, heart problems and various mental illnesses may be at higher risk of heat-related health effects.”
She adds that pregnant women and people who do physical work or exercise outside are also at higher risk of heat-related illness.
The weather agency says it issues heat warnings when high temperatures pose an “increased risk” of illnesses such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
Warning signs of heat illness include swelling, rash, cramps, fainting and exhaustion.
During a heat wave, Environment Canada recommends monitoring alerts, paying attention to how you and others are feeling, drinking water before you get thirsty and staying cool inside.
“There are many ways to stay cool, such as moving to a cool place such as an air conditioner, library, community center or shopping mall, wearing loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, taking cool showers, taking a dip in a cold pool, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activities says Kidd.
She also reminds people not to leave children or pets unattended in a parked vehicle, as the interior of the car can become extremely hot.
Weather alerts can be monitored weather.gc.ca,
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