Torrid forecast sparks heat warning in southern Manitoba
Humidex will make it feel like temperatures are as high as 40, Environment Canada predicts
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.
CBC meteorologist John Sauder says the hot and humid conditions are the result of a ridge of high pressure, which is expected to last at least until Sunday.
Environment Canada, which issued the heat warning, is advising people to drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks from the 30-degree conditions inside cooled buildings.
In Winnipeg, the temperature will reach a high of 29 C 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 have air conditioning and plenty of drinking water. Residents can also visit pools and spray pads to seek relief.
The scorching heat in the city will peak Saturday with a high of 33 C. It will feel hotter than 40 with the humidex. Sauder forecasts a 40 per cent chance of thunderstorms in the early evening.
A cold front bringing cooler and drier air into the region is expected to provide a reprieve from the sweltering temperatures that evening.
Be alert at Folk Festival
The Winnipeg Folk Festival, underway this weekend at Birds Hill Park, is feeling 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, says first-aid teams will include doctors, nurses and paramedics ready to act.
Festival-goers themselves will look after 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 at outdoor showers or drink from the water taps on site, Laporte said.
Dr. Richard Rusk, a provincial medical officer of health, says loose-fitting cotton clothing is a good choice in 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 Noon on Thursday.
He says prolonged exposure to the heat can have devastating consequences, as seen with the recent heat spell in southern Quebec that has been blamed for the deaths of at least 44 people.
We get people who come in with 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 illness in 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 a heatstroke.
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, CAA Manitoba 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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With files from CBC Manitoba's Radio Noon