It’s going to be a doggone hot long weekend
A heat warning for the Canada Day long weekend was issued Friday afternoon for Peterborough and the Kawarthas by Environment Canada with a heat wave beginning Saturday that will continue well into next week, with high temperatures in the low- to mid-30s and humidex values to the mid-40s, with overnight low temperatures in the low 20s.
Environment Canada’s warning follows a heat warning that had also been issued Thursday by Peterborough Public Health.
Friday’s high temperature in Peterborough reached 29.8 C and felt more like 35 C with the humidex, according to Environment Canada.
As of Friday afternoon, all public beaches in Peterborough city and county were listed as safe for swimming by Peterborough Public Health.
Because of the heat, the city’s One Roof Community Centre will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Saturday to Tuesday, offering meals and other services who people who live on the streets in need of relief.
Lang Pioneer Village announced Friday afternoon that it is making adjustments to its Historic Dominion Day celebration on Sunday to adjust for the heat. A sprinkler and several water stations will be set up for the children’s schoolyard games, such as sack races, three-legged races and egg relays, that are slated for 2:45 p.m. The military march and musketry demonstration and firing competition by the Norwood and East Northumberland high school re-enactors at 1:30 p.m. will be moved into airconditioned buildings at the museum north of Keene.
“Beginning Saturday and continuing through next week, daytime highs are forecast to reach the low to mid thirties with humidex values into the mid forties,” states the Environment Canada heat warning issued at 3:19 p.m. Friday for Peterborough and the Kawarthas and the rest of southern Ontario.
“Overnight low temperatures are expected to be in the low twenties, except high teens in some rural areas, providing little relief from the heat.
“Current indications suggest hot temperatures could persist through next week. This will be the most significant heat event in the past few years.
“Extreme heat affects everyone. The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.
“Watch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions.”