Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Long weekend weather: Heat waves drag on across the country

Share

As Canadians head into the long weekend, forecasters say most of the country will experience heat warnings over the coming days.

Temperatures in many parts of the country are expected to reach the mid to upper 30s and with the humidex, other areas could see temperatures approach 40.

Large swaths of the Maritimes are expected to get hot weather through the weekend with humidex conditions reaching the high 30s. Southern Quebec will see similar conditions until Sunday. The "heat event" will continue in Eastern Ontario until Saturday night, when a cooler airmass is expected to settle over the region.

Moving west, southern Saskatchewan could get daytime highs of 37C on Friday. Similar highs are likely in southeastern Alberta, while much of south-central B.C., as well as Vancouver Island, are also bracing for a period of hot temperatures.

“The heat comes from the south and invades the southern part of Canada,†said Peter Kimbell with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“It basically sits in place until a cold air mass flushes it out.â€

The longer the heat sits, the higher the potential for health risks for Canadians.

Then, there's the smoke. The drier and hotter weather is creating a dangerous situation for crews battling the massive wildfire in Jasper National Park, and large swaths of Alberta and the Northwest Territories are under air quality advisories.

James Eastham with Parks Canada says the wildfire has grown about 500 hectares because of the change in weather.

“Over the coming few days we will see higher temperatures and lower relative humidity,†he said.

“And we do anticipate to see a more intense level of fire activity.â€

Eastham says the risk to the National Park and the town is still high. However, preparations have been made to protect the community, including redeploying structure protection sprinklers and a volume sprinkler, constructing fire breaks with heavy equipment and burning forest fuels.

Should Canada start naming heat waves?

Caroline Metz with Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation says heat waves in Canada should be named, just like hurricanes.

“If we can start naming and categorizing heat waves in advance it means more people could take things more seriously and be more inclined to take protective action to stay cool and safe,†she said.

Metz says other countries like Greece and Spain have already adopted the practice.  

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'

The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.

A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.

Local Spotlight

Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.

A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.

The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.

A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north

What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.

New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.