Scorching hot weather sets records

A sizzling heat wave broke 16 records incommunities across Canada Wednesday, despite cooler temperatures in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Markham, Ont., was the day's hotspotat 35.9 C, breaking the record of 35.6 set back in 1991.

Eight Quebec towns broke their own high temperature records, along with six in Ontario and two in Manitoba.The regions saw temperatures in the low to mid-30s, with increasing humidity meaning humidex values in the low 40s.

Saskatchewan and Alberta temperatures, meanwhile, dippedin many areas,likely a welcome relief to some.

Theheat and humidityhave triggeredheat alerts,brought thunderstorms andhelped spark forest fires.

And there's no sign of relief yet for central Canada.

In Ontario, Toronto is forecast to hit 38 C with a humidex of 48 Thursday. The highest temperature ever recorded at Pearson airportwas 38.3 ConAug 25, 1948. Moving to downtown Toronto, thehighest ever recorded temperature was 40.6 C on July 8, 1936.

Windsor, Ont., could hit 49 with the humidex.

Most ofsouthern Quebec is under a smog advisory through Thursday. An advisory for Windsor-Essex-Chatham Kent, Ont.,lifted Wednesday night.

But this isn't the hottest weatherCanada hasever seen, said CBC meteorologist Nick Czernkovich.

"Some of the records that go back into the 1930s [show] much more in the way of heat," he said. "[On] July 5, 1937, Saskatchewan saw temperatures into the mid-40s, actually at 45 degrees," he said.

"The deadliest heat wave came in July of 1936 when temperatures exceeded 44 degrees in Manitoba and Ontario, and 1,180 deaths were attributed to that particular heat wave."

Thursdayhas the potential to be thehottest day ever recorded in Toronto, withEnvironment Canada calling for a high of 37 C. The highest temperature recordedin the citywas 38.3 C on Aug. 25, 1948, at the airport.

Toronto's medical officer of health has declared an extreme heat alert for the city until further notice and smog alerts have been issued for the Windsor, Essex, Chatham and Kent areas.

The heat wave will continue through Friday and into the weekend for most of southern and eastern Ontario.Ottawa's chief medical officer has issued a heat warning for Wednesday and Thursday.

The Independent Electricity System Operator in Ontario expects record demand for energy Thursday, but saysthe systemis ready for it.

In northern Ontario,dozens of wildfires triggered by lightning and tinder-dry conditions continue to burn.

In Manitoba, Winnipeg hit a record-tying 34 C with a humidex of 43 Tuesday, but was expecting a slightly lower high of 29 C Wednesday.

Relief for Alberta and Saskatchewan

Meanwhile, there was some reliefin the Prairies, with temperatures coming downfive to 10 degrees Wednesday in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

However, the system pushing eastward was also expected to bring thunderstorms and heavy rains, with up to 150 millimetrespossible in some areas.

While some people decry theheat and sticky skin, lots of Canadians wonder what the big deal is. Several people in Saskatchewan told CBC News that the hot and humid weather is exactly what they'd been hoping for.

Sarah Liberman, who was enjoying lunch in Wascana Park in Regina, saidshe had been talking to a friend who seeks out the kind of tropical weatherCanada is experiencing this week.

"So if he gets this here he's not going to complain at all," she said. "And I thought that was such a good perspective."

For those who don't like the heat, they can at least take solace inthe thought that it hasbeeneven hotter in the U.S.

The oppressive conditions extend from the northern Plains states to Texas and from Nebraska to the Ohio Valley.

The daily highs in Oklahoma have been at least 38 C for 29 straight days, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, had a humidex readingTuesdaythat made it feel like 52 C.