The London area should take precautions for another day or so of hot and muggy weather, according to the public health unit.
Despite Wednesday’s dramatic night of severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings, an air mass of hot and humid weather is expected to remain in the region on Friday, lingering into Saturday morning.
The high on Friday could reach 31 C with humidex values of around 35 C. Overnight temperatures will dip down to 19 C before they shoot back up to 29 C on Saturday.
“These conditions meet the Middlesex-London Health Unit’s (MLHU) criteria for issuing a one-day Heat Alert,” read a statement from the health unit. “Based on the current forecast, this Heat Alert will remain in effect until Saturday morning.”
While a heat warning issued earlier this week by Environment Canada for London-Middlesex has lifted, the MLHU says it will issue a heat alert if one or more of the following criteria are met:
• A daytime high of 31 C or higher and a forecast low of 20 C or higher.
• Environment Canada issues a forecast for a humidex of 40 C or higher.
The health unit recommends that you take extra care while outdoors in extreme heat by drinking plenty of water and natural juices, avoiding spending excess time outdoors or finding cooler, shaded areas outside as much as possible.
Those spending time indoors are encouraged to keep shades and curtains drawn in the sunniest parts of their home and to take cool baths and showers to cool off. The health unit also suggests using a fan to draw in cooler air at night if you do not have air conditioning.
Additional tips on how to stay cool during the heat and information about heat-related illnesses can be found on the health unit’s website.
