Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the London and Middlesex region as the national weather service calls for excessive heat and humidity to kick off the workweek.
The heat warning, which also covers Elgin, Lambton and Oxford counties, says highs near 31 C are expected in the afternoon on Monday and Tuesday, with humidex values near 40.
The evening won’t bring much respite from the muggy conditions, with the overnight low falling only to around 20 C.
“Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index to approach the high risk category,” the advisory says.
So far, Environment Canada’s forecast for London calls for rainy conditions over the next several days, with things cooling off mid-week.
Mainly cloudy skies are expected both Monday and Tuesday, with a 60 per cent chance of afternoon showers and a risk of thunderstorm.
Wednesday will see showers and a high of 26 C, and Thursday cloudy skies, a 40 per cent chance of rain and a high of 22 C.
Information about how to beat the heat and avoid heat-related illness can be found on the health unit’s website.
The hot and humid temperatures in southwestern Ontario come as Western Canada experiences a “prolonged, dangerous, and historic heat wave,” according to Environment Canada.
Heat warnings remain posted across B.C. and Alberta, large parts of Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and a section of Yukon as the weather office forecasts temperatures reaching 40 C in some areas.
Sixty temperature records fell Sunday in B.C., including in the Village of Lytton, where the mercury reached 46.6 C — breaking the all-time Canadian high of 45 C, set in Saskatchewan in 1937.
–With files from Jake Jeffrey and The Canadian Press