Heat wave could come to an end as remnants of Hurricane Beryl arrive in GTA
The extreme heat being felt in the Greater Toronto Area could give way to cooler temperatures and torrential rainfall by mid-week due to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for most of southern Ontario, warning of “torrential downpours” that could begin Tuesday or Wednesday night and continue into Thursday.
The weather agency says that while its confidence in the precise track of the system is low at this point, it is possible that there could be rainfall rates of 20 to 40 millimetres per hour at times in some locations.
“The only thing that will look like Beryl is the atmospheric moisture. Usually the last thing to go in a hurricane kind of system is the rain. The rain will often be exported quite a distance away and we are going to see those rains come Wednesday and Thursday,” Environment Canada Senior Climatologist Dave Phillips told CP24. “It looks like it is going to be a soggy couple days there with (rainfall) amounts that could very much lead to flooding.”
Beryl made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday after leaving a path of destruction in the Caribbean over the weekend.
Phillips told CP24 that it is possible the storm could result in 50 millimetres of rainfall accumulation in some Ontario communities, which “would be more than a months worth of rain in one day.”
He said that the system will also bring an end to the current heat wave but only temporarily.
“The remnants of it will sorta interrupt the heat at the beginning of the week but towards the end of the week as we get into the weekend we will see temps get up to the high 20s with high humidity and we will back in that sort of summer kinda weather,” he said.
Heat warning continues
The potential arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Beryl come with Toronto under a heat warning.
The warning, issued by Environment Canada on Sunday, forecasts daytime highs of nearly 31 C in several regions, including Toronto, Hamilton, Burlington-Oakville, Halton Hills-Milton, and Mississauga-Brampton. With humidity, some areas of the region will feel more like 35 to 38.
In addition to the high temperatures, certain areas of southern Ontario could experience storms, said CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter on Monday morning.
"Hot, hazy and humid today," Coulter said. "A few storms may impact the south end of Georgian Bay, but remain well north of Toronto. We’ll get light winds and a steamy high of 30, feeling [like] 35."
Environment Canada said there will be little relief overnight as lows are only expected to be 20 C or higher.
Within its warning, the agency advised that older adults, infants and young children, pregnant people, people with physical and/or mental illnesses as well as those with disabilities or mobility issues may experience greater health risks due to the heat.
People are being urged to watch out for effects of heat illness, which include swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and the worsening of some health conditions.
“Drink plenty of water regularly, even before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration,” Environment Canada urged.
“Never leave people, particularly children, or pets inside a parked vehicle.”
For those in need of relief from the heat, the City of Toronto points residents to the more than 300 designated ‘cool spaces’ as part of its Heat Strategy Network, implemented in 2019. These spaces, which replaced just over a dozen cooling centres formerly operated by the city, include libraries, community centres, senior centres, shopping malls, and YMCA locations. The full list can be found online.
Come Wednesday, temperatures are expected to drop back into the mid 20s, with a high of 22 C.
“A big part of that cool down will be due to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl,” CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter said. “Thick clouds, showers and cooler winds will allow those who hate the heat to breathe easy.”
Delays possible at Pearson Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is warning travellers of possible delays due to the heat.
"We’re expecting it to be a sizzling day as Environment Canada’s heat warning says daytime highs are expected to reach 35 to 38 with the humidex," the statement, shared to social media on Monday morning, reads.
"In this heat, our safety focus is to provide adequate breaks to allow outdoor workers to stay cool. This means your plane could take longer than expected to reach the gate, or your luggage processing could be delayed."
The airport said flights from Pearson to Texas could also see disruptions on Monday as the airport monitors the impacts of Hurricane Beryl.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Missing B.C. climber died from fall on Mount Baker, medical examiner says
The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies and bats
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Anne Hathaway confirms 'Princess Diaries 3': 'Miracles happen'
You might be thinking, 'Shut up!' but it’s officially true: the 'Princess Diaries' franchise is finally growing.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Sask. man pleads guilty in U.S. after unknowingly providing videos of men raping toddlers to FBI agent
A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.