The first full day of summer in Toronto was also marked by the first official heat wave of the season, after temperatures topped out in the mid-30s for the third day in a row.
A heat wave is marked by three consecutive days of temperatures that hit at least 32 degrees Celcius.
On Tuesday, the city topped out at 33.4 C. On Wednesday, the temperature got up to 34.6 C, which was a new record high, and by Thursday afternoon, temperatures hit 34 C at Pearson International Airport.
The hot, humid weather also brought a risk of severe thunderstorms to the region Thursday evening.
Environment Canada had issued a severe storm warning for much of the GTA, but no serious damage was reported. Rain and gusty winds passed through the area, heading east late Thursday night.
An extreme heat alert, as well as humidex and smog advisories, also remain in effect. The elderly and people with lung problems, in particular, were being encouraged to stay indoors as much as possible.
Seven cooling stations were also up around the city.
Torontonians can expect some relief by Friday, however, as a cold front moves in and temperatures are expected to drop, with a high of 25 C predicted for Friday.
