A heat wave will continue to wash across southern Ontario on Friday, but the sweltering conditions should lack some of the bluster that came with Thursday's record-breaking temperatures.
Environment Canada says Toronto should still reach a high of 35 Celsius on Friday, and a UV index of 11, or extreme. The high was sitting steady at 31 C by 6 p.m.
Temperatures should drop to 26 C by the evening.
An extreme heat alert remains in effect in the City of Toronto, but Environment Canada has ended a weather warning regarding dangerous levels of humidity on Thursday.
Toronto broke the daily temperature record with a sweltering 38 C recorded on Thursday afternoon, with a humidex making it feel more like 48 C.
The daytime high broke the July 21, 1955 record of 35. 6 C and at least 17 cities and towns in the region, including Windsor, Hamilton and Collingwood, all broke daytime high records as well.
Thursday's hot spot in Ontario was on Grimsby Mountain with a scorching 38.5 C high.
Thursday's heat spell was so extreme that the Toronto Blue Jays closed the Rogers Centre's dome during their afternoon game. Several outdoor concerts were scrubbed and horse races at the Woodbine track had to be cancelled as well.
A spokesman for the Woodbine Entertainment Group said that with Friday's reduced humidex values, it was possible races could resume.
By Friday, a heat dome that had drenched southern Ontario in a dense air mass had moved out of the region, letting the humidex values come down to the mid- to upper-30s.
Environment Canada suggests that a humidex advisory could return to the Toronto area overt the next several days. Saturday is expected to bring temperatures of 35 C and higher humidex values, while Sunday's high will be 29 C.
Extreme heat alert continues
Toronto's extreme heat alert remained in effect on Friday, as health officials warned city residents that high temperatures could be treacherous for at-risk adults, seniors and the homeless.
An extreme heat alert is declared when the risk of heat-related death in the city is 50 per cent higher than what it would be on a day without a heat alert, according to Toronto Public Health.
The city has opened seven cooling centres across the city and extended hours at nine pools.
The public is encouraged to call or visit family and friends who are at a greater risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses, such as isolated adults and seniors.
With files from The Canadian Press
