No end in sight for scorching heat

Cameron Edgerton, 4, of Blackstock Ont., enjoys the cool waters and the sand of Lake Ontario at Lakeview Park in Oshawa on Monday. (VINCE TALOTTA/TORONTO STAR)

The city of Toronto lifted the summer’s third heat alert which went into effect on July 16. But don’t be fooled: the dreaded humidex advisory is still on and the temperatures are still high.

On Sunday, Torontonians saw the mercury climb to 34.6 C with a UV index of 10 (very high), setting a new record over the previous record of 34.4 C set in 2002.

The normal temperature for this time of year is 27 C, according to Environment Canada.

The rain trickling on the city on Monday morning from an incoming weak cold front won’t do much to cool the temperatures, says David Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment Canada.

“We’re being hit by double whammies here,” says Phillips. “The heat is high and the humidity is too — but where is the precipitation?”

The temperature will be in the 30s range all week, reaching a predicted high of 37 C on Thursday.

“We’re clearly going to break records on individual days,” says Phillips.

He emphasizes that these temperatures are all in the shade and that they are 6 or 7 degrees higher under the sun, without even accounting for the humidex.

The entire region seems to be sizzling under the sun. The American Midwest was also hit by a wave of scorching heat, with forecasters predicting temperatures exceeding 46 C in some parts.

There’s a high pressure area parked right over the Midwest, says Phillips, and that only spells out more heat for us. “The system is gradually going to move on top of us,” he says.

As the days get warmer, residents should keep an eye on the city’s air quality. Environment Canada lists the air quality index at a level 4, or moderate risk, and forecasts an upgrade to a level 5, still within the moderate risk range.

It may be hot now, but Phillips warns that the real sizzling is still to come.

“We still have another week to go before we reach the dog days of summer,” he says.

-- Sarah-Taissir Bencharif, Staff Reporter

Joey Edgerton, 9 , and Cameron, 4, play in the water at Lakeview Park in Oshawa on Monday. (VINCE TALOTTA/TORONTO STAR)

Joey and his brother Keegan , 7, Edgerton also try to stay cool. (VINCE TALOTTA/TORONTO STAR)