Quebec heat wave prompts health warnings
Digital Reporter
Tuesday, July 22, 2014, 9:02 AM - Three or more consecutive days with temperatures of 30°C or higher.
That's the criteria for an official heat wave in Quebec.
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Heat wave status was reached in some northern regions on Monday after daytime highs continued to climb into the 30s for the third day in a row.
The high heat and humidity prompted a heat warning in parts of southern Quebec early Tuesday.
"A high pressure system over the Eastern Seaboard is bringing warm and humid air over Southwestern Quebec," said Environment Canada in the warning. "Together, the heat and humidity will give humidex values near 40 in Montréal and some areas of Montérégie this afternoon."
While extreme heat can put everyone at risk from heat illnesses, health risks are greatest for:
- Older adults
- Infants and young children
- People with chronic illnesses such as breathing difficulties, heart conditions or psychiatric illnesses
- People who work in the heat
- People who exercise in the heat
- People without access to air conditioning
- Homeless people
