Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the Montreal area, including Laval and Longueuil. The agency writes on its website that "humidex values reaching 40 are expected for the next day." It also describes Wednesday's weather as the "first heat event of the season." "Maximum temperatures" will remain "in the low thirties" but humidity could make it feel much higher. That could pose "elevated risks" for "young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors." Environment Canada advises that you "drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty and stay in a cool place." It warns that you should "never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle." Wednesday isn't the last day of high temperatures this week, either. Montrealers are in for another 30 C day on Thursday. Temperatures will begin to decline thereafter as rain moves into the area. It's forecasted to be a much more tolerable 22 C on Saturday and 17 C on Sunday. To help Montrealers deal with the heat, the city has decided to gradually open its water play areas as of Tuesday. "The scorching heat expected over the next few days and the pandemic context in which we find ourselves make the situation more complex for Montrealers looking for a bit of coolness," the city wrote in a statement. Environment Canada The city is "also preparing to exceptionally open some of its infrastructures for future heatwave episodes so that Montrealers can refresh themselves, since regular cool spots, such as shopping malls and libraries, could possibly still be closed." Montreal "strongly recommends" that you: ● "drink plenty of water without waiting to get thirsty; ● "cool down often with a cool shower or bath; ● "limit physical activity;" and ● "wear light clothing." La chaleur prévue cette semaine et le contexte de pandémie complexifient la situation pour les Montréalaises et les Montréalais à la recherche de fraîcheur. C'est pourquoi les arrondissements ouvrent graduellement leurs jeux d'eau à partir d'aujourd'hui. https://t.co/k3uAHV8Miw pic.twitter.com/KUP4cgAJhe— Ville de Montréal (@MTL_Ville) May 26, 2020 This is just the beginning of an unusual summer for the city. Many of its traditional festival activities have been cancelled. Environment Canada There's also uncertainty about if and when other venues where residents could cool down, like restaurants, bars, and pools, will reopen. And, when they do open, if they'll have to operate with a limited capacity.
