Wednesday, July 20, 2011

High Heat Advisory

High heat and humidity advisories are in effect for most of southern Quebec and Ontario as a tropical air mass invades the region from the US. Temperatures will soar into the low to mid 30's with high dew points and heat index values well over 40C, especially in Ontario today through Friday. It short it will be hot and uncomfortable. The heat will peak tomorrow with highs close to 37C (100F) in may areas, probably "cooler" in Montreal at about 34C. There is a risk of strong thunderstorms in southern Quebec tomorrow as the humidity builds as well.

Just how hot is it? Yesterday, Winnipeg was 34C (95F) with a record humidex of 47C. Minneapolis had it warmest dew point value ever at 83F with highs in the 90's and heat index values over 110F. The heat will continue to build into the east for the balance of the week with most regions from the Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic and Northeast under heat advisories, nearly 1/3 of the US population. Keep cool, stay hydrated and check on your older family members and neighbours. The heat is especially hard on the very old and very young.

*As a footnote to the heat, the air quality is deteriorating as well as smoke from the northern Ontario forest fires drifts over the region. Combine that with elevated pollution from the heat and you get poor air quality for at least the next 2 days in major eastern Canadian cities.

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