Ottawa will likely get hit by strong thunderstorms on Friday, Environment Canada is warning.
On Friday afternoon, the weather agency upgraded a severe thunderstorm watch to a warning for the national capital, whose residents are enduring day three of a bad heat wave that’s expected to last well into Saturday.
Several “isolated” thunderstorms moving east could produce strong wind gusts, heavy rain and hail, Environment Canada cautioned in its advisory.
Take cover immediately if “threatening weather” rolls in, the statement said.
The severe thunderstorm watch for Prescott and Russell was also upgraded to a warning on Friday afternoon. The Ottawa, Prescott and Russell, Renfrew and Pembroke areas all remain under heat warnings issued by Environment Canada earlier this week.
The temperature in the national capital on Friday is expected to reach a high of 33 C, with the humidex making it feel more like 40. That’s about two degrees higher than Thursday’s humidity peak.
The sky will get increasingly cloudy as the day goes on, according to Environment Canada. The low Friday night will be 21 C.
On Saturday, the muggy, hot weather is expected to continue; temperatures are predicted to hit 30 but feel like 39 with the humidity.
Expect a mix of sun and cloud, with a 60 per cent chance of showers Saturday morning, plus a risk of a thunderstorm, the weather agency says. The temperature will drop to 14 C at night.
Sunday will be sunny with a high of 28 and a low of 14 in the evening.