Environment Canada has issued widespread hot weather warnings across Canada as a heat wave brings temperatures as high as 37 C to parts of the country this week. The warnings cover Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, the Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan, with a total of 60 warnings in Quebec alone, 38 in Ontario, and 31 in Alberta.
Warning Levels and Impacts
The warnings are classified as yellow or orange based on expected temperature severity. Yellow warnings indicate moderate, localized, or short-term impacts, while orange warnings signal major, widespread impacts that may last several days. No red warnings, which are reserved for potentially life-threatening weather, are currently in place.
Environment Canada states these alerts are issued when hazardous weather may cause damage, disruption, or health impacts. According to the agency, "Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water."
Regional Breakdown
In Ontario, 38 orange warnings and 40 yellow warnings are in effect. Southern Ontario is expected to see temperatures up to 37 C, with humidex values—which measure how hot it feels—exceeding 40 C. Quebec has 60 orange warnings, with daytime highs reaching 33 C and humidex values up to 44. Alberta has 31 yellow warnings, concentrated in the north around Lac la Biche, MacKenzie County, and Wood Buffalo, with highs of 30 C expected to last until Thursday. The Northwest Territories has seven warnings, with temperatures around 30 C, and Saskatchewan has four warnings with highs of 29 C.
Duration and Advice
In most areas, the heat is expected to persist until Friday, potentially into the weekend. Environment Canada advises checking on older adults, those living alone, and other at-risk people multiple times a day. Signs of heatstroke include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and changes in mental state. The agency recommends calling 9-1-1 in such cases and, while waiting, moving the person to a cool place, removing extra clothing, and applying cold water or ice packs.
The heat wave coincides with a record-breaking heatwave in Europe, which has triggered school closures, travel disruption, flash flooding, and crop damage. France has reported 1,000 excess deaths during its heatwave. Meanwhile, Environment Canada has also issued orange warnings for rainfall across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and yellow warnings or watches for severe thunderstorms in several Ontario areas.
