Torrid forecast sparks heat warning in southern Manitoba

Prepare for blistering temperatures: A heat warning in effect for southern Manitoba Friday predicts a daytime high of about 30 C and humidex values reaching 40.

CBCmeteorologist John Sauder says the hot and humidconditionsare the result of a ridge of high pressure, which is expected to last at least untilSunday.

Environment Canada, which issued the heat warning,is advisingpeople to drinkplenty of water andtake frequent breaks from the 30-degree conditionsinside cooled buildings.

In Winnipeg, the temperature will reach a high of 29C with the humidex making it feel like mid-30s.

The city is inviting people to cool off in civic facilities such as Leisure Centres and libraries during normal business hours, which haveair conditioning and plenty of drinking water. Residents can also visitpools and spray pads to seek relief.

The scorchingheat in the city will peak Saturday witha high of 33C. It will feel hotter than 40with the humidex. Sauder forecasts a40 per cent chance of thunderstorms inthe early evening.

A cold front bringing cooler and drier air into the region is expected to provide a reprieve fromthe sweltering temperatures that evening.

Be alert at Folk Festival

The Winnipeg Folk Festival, underway this weekend at Birds Hill Park, isfeeling the heat.

Organizers have tasked their 900 volunteers to keep an eye out for people in distress.

Paul Laporte,production and wellness co-ordinator at the annual musical festival, saysfirst-aid teamswill include doctors, nurses and paramedics ready to act.

Festival-goers themselves will lookafter each other, he said.

"It's more of a 'hey buddy, why don't we go get some water together and hang out and enjoy the show.'"

People can also seek refuge under trees,cool down atoutdoor showers ordrink from thewater taps on site, Laporte said.

How to keep cool and safe during a heat warning

6 years ago

Duration 2:55

The scorching heat in Winnipeg will peak Saturday with a high of 33 C. It will feel hotter than 40 with the humidex.

Dr. Richard Rusk, a provincialmedical officer of health, says loose-fitting cottonclothing is a good choicein humid conditions.

"It fits well at Folk Fest, having that hippie look with the big wide hat and these flowing clothes,"he told CBC Manitoba's Radio Noonon Thursday.

He says prolonged exposure to the heat can have devastating consequences, as seen with therecent heat spellin southern Quebec that hasbeen blamed for the deaths of at least 44 people.

We get people who come inwith heatstroke because they don't appreciate that it can happen and it does sneak up on you.-Dr. Richard Rusk

People should watch for signs of a heat-related illnessin themselves and others, Rusk said.

"You don't really appreciate how you're falling behind."

A sudden headache might be a symptom of medical exhaustion, while dry skin suggests aheatstroke.

Hospital visits are not uncommon, said Rusk.

"Every year this time at the Folk Fest, we get people who come in with heatstroke because they don't appreciate that it can happen, and it does sneak up on you."

People should also be cautious about their vehicles, CAAManitoba warns.

"Many people don't realize that heat can take a bigger toll on your car battery than the chill of winter," Erika Miller, public and media relations specialist for the insurer, said in a media release.

She encourages battery testing for units that are three to five years old.

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