After some relief on north winds in Sarnia Wednesday, stifling heat and humidity will dominate our weather for the next few days.
In fact, Friday may well turn out to be the hottest day of the year.
Environment Canada's forecast for Sarnia calls for a humidex of 38 C, 100 F Thursday on south winds with the low going down to only 24 C, 75 F. Friday the high is expected to reach 34 C with a humidex of 45 C (113 F).
Bluewater Power Senior Vice President Alex Palimaka said there are steps we can take to stay cool and control hydro usage.
"Bluewater Power's advice during a heatwave is that you should keep your curtains and drapes closed to keep the heat out of your house. The second thing we usually recommend to people is to turn off unnecessary lights in your house," said Palimaka. "And the third, and probably most effective piece of advice we can offer is take the opportunity to be outside -- cook dinner on the BBQ instead of in the kitchen."
In terms of load on the power grid, Palimaka suggests turning up the heat in your home by two degrees above the temperature you're normally comfortable with.
He said right now their system is in normal operating mode and very stable but forecasts show that by Saturday they expect to reach a peak that will probably fall about five to 10 per cent shy of the utility's all-time peak.
Palimaka said the biggest threat for power outages will be pop-up thunderstorms in daytime heating.
Environment Canada issued a heat warning for Sarnia Lambton Thursday afternoon.
Lambton Public Health says in high temperatures and humidity, your body may not be able to cool properly, which can lead to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.
Symptoms of heat illness include:
- dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting
- headache
- rapid breathing and heartbeat
- extreme thirst
- decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine
Drink plenty of liquids especially water before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration.
Frequently visit neighbours, friends and older family members, especially those who are chronically ill, to make sure that they are cool and hydrated.
Never leave people or pets in your care inside a parked vehicle or in direct sunlight.
In addition to malls, libraries, recreation centres and similar facilities, the following air-conditioned locations are available for the public seeking relief from the heat. Please note these locations are open during normal hours of operation only.
Cooler and less humid air is expected to arrive in the wake of a weak cold front Sunday.
-With files from Colin Gowdy