A rare spell of hot and humid weather has hit parts of Ontario and Quebec provinces in eastern Canada, with temperatures on Monday the highest recorded there in nearly a decade.
An outdoor advertising screen in downtown Toronto showed a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius on Monday, with high humidity adding to the discomfort as the city recorded its highest temperature since July 13, 2016.
Pearson International Airport recorded a temperature of 36 degrees, breaking the previous record of 32.8 degrees that was set there on June 23, 1921, according to Environment Canada.
The extreme hot weather caused power blackouts for more than 2,500 users in downtown Toronto on Monday afternoon, the local power supplier said.
"You go out in that sun and you can add another six, seven, eight degrees to the stress on the body and that's why it's a real health risk for everybody,"said David Phillips, a climatologist who worked for Environment Canada.
"I couldn't believe that, I never experienced such heat in Toronto. And then I checked my weather forecast and it said it felt like 46 and it felt right so,” said Michael, a Toronto resident.
Local authorities have urged residents, especially the vulnerable, to stay indoors and take precautions.
Rare heatwave hits eastern Canada
