The next few days are going to be hot, hot, hot in Montreal, and it’s not us saying it, it’s Environment Canada!
The heat warning has been issued by Environment Canada, the government agency that monitors the environment, climate change, agriculture, fisheries, environmental protection and natural resources.
Heat, especially extreme heat, is dangerous for the most vulnerable people (children, the elderly, people suffering from chronic illness), and even if you’re in great shape, you’ll have to be very careful and treat yourself gently – and coolly – over the next few days.
Heat warning
The warning was issued this morning, and it’ s for this weekend. It’s for the Montreal island area, so it won’t just be for downtown, where it’s often very hot in summer.
The weather will be very hot and humid, with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Farenheit) during the day and above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Farenheit) at night. That’s the heat required for a heatwave, when you can’t really cool off at night.
Some might say that 30 degrees is nothing! But let’s not forget the humidex – an index used in hot weather to reflect the heat felt by most people.
Over the next two days, it will be between 35 and 39 degrees Celsius (between 95 and 102 degrees Farenheit) and that’s very hot – sweltering, even.
Environment Canada’s recommendations
To get through the heatwave with grace and, in the end, maybe even a pre-holiday golden glow , Environment Canada has some recommendations;
- we protect and call our elders, we bring them fresh water, we rummage through closets to find their largest hats (style is important too). Shortness of breath, flushed cheeks and fainting are symptoms of too much heat, and should be monitored carefully.
- we drink water very often, even if we’re not thirsty (and unfortunately, we can’t replace water with nitrobrew because coffee dehydrates)
- if we have air conditioning, we turn it on (and if we don’t, we turn on all the fans we can)
- wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing
- go out for activities in cooler weather (early morning, late afternoon)
- we don’t leave children or pets (or our parents) in the car, because the heat inside closed cars will be equal to that of an oven
…and our recommendations
- take regular cold showers (good for the skin too)
- we immediately call our new best friend; the acquaintance who lives in a building with a swimming pool
- we eat cucumber, watermelon, lemonade and, if need be, unlimited quantities of mr freeze
- go away for a few days to a cottage and work by the lake
- go to the movies (where the air conditioning is the freshest in town)
- go for abeach-in-town look with a swimsuit, pareo and ultra-light shirt
Good luck for the next few days, stay cool!