Ajax is set to bake under the first major heat wave of the summer this week, with Environment Canada warning residents to prepare for temperatures climbing as high as 36°C and humidity making it feel even hotter.
The heat event is expected to stretch from Tuesday, June 30 through Friday, July 3, and possibly into Saturday. Daytime highs will hit 31 to 33°C on Tuesday, then peak at 34 to 36°C on Wednesday and Thursday. Overnight lows of 21 to 24°C will offer little relief, according to the Environment Canada forecast.
The Durham Region Health Department is urging residents to check on people who may be vulnerable, especially those living alone, seniors over 60, infants, and people with chronic health conditions. Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Canada. A 2018 heat wave in Montreal, with humidex values over 40°C, killed 66 people, most of them older men who lived alone.
Ontario’s warning system triggers alerts when daytime temperatures hit 31°C or higher and nighttime lows stay at 20°C or above for at least two days in a row. This week’s forecast meets that mark, prompting an Orange Heat Warning for the Pickering-Oshawa-Southern Durham Region.
Hot, humid air can also worsen air quality, and can result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high-risk category. Residents looking to cool off can visit Town of Ajax pools, splash pads at McLean Community Centre and Rotary Park, or local libraries that serve as cooling stations.
The health department says anyone without air conditioning at home should find a cool public space or a shaded outdoor area during the hottest hours. Residents can call the Durham Health Connection Line at 311 for more information on staying safe in the heat.
