The Renfrew County and District Health Unit has issued a heat event, in addition to Environment Canada’s heat warning. Today and tomorrow’s forecast calls for daytime temperatures in the low 30s with humidex values nearing 40 degrees. Melissa Botz, Communication Coordinator with the health unit says there are some people that are more at risk of heat related illness when the temperatures get this high.
What makes it worse is that there will little relief overnight as the humidity hangs around. Luckily, a cooler and less humid air mass is expected to arrive in the wake of a weak cold front Sunday. For tips on how to stay safe, where you can access a cooling station and what to do during an extreme heat-related emergency visit www.rcdhu.com or follow the health unit on Facebook and Twitter.
Meanwhile, it may give you temporary relief, but officials at the Weather Network warn that using fans may not be the best way to beat the heat. As temperatures and humidex values are expected to stay high over the next several days, the Network is reminding you that fans simply move around air and don’t remove humidity. Fans evaporate moisture at a fast rate, essentially putting more water into an already humid environment. While health officials say fans aren’t all bad, they have to be combined with other methods to keep cool such as cold drinks or showers.
