Potential record-smashing heat could bring increased airborne pollutants to Oxford County on Thursday.
Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for the county, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg just after 10:30 a.m. It warns of the possibility of deteriorating air quality due to hot and sunny conditions that can cause increasing high levels of air pollution.
The national weather agency went on to advise that the air quality health index (AQHI) risk is moderate, but has the potential of short-term high risk values in the afternoon and evening hours.
Deteriorating or poor air quality can lead to increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. It is particularly a concern for children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma.
The temperature is forecast to soar to 32 C Thursday afternoon. If that happens, it would smash the previous heat record for June 1 of 28.4 C set in 1986. Summer-like weather is expected to continue Friday and Saturday with daytime highs of 31 C and 26 C. Those highs are several degrees above the average temperature for this time of year of 22 C.
