Air quality statement for Ottawa lifted but heat warning remains in effect
A special air quality statement that came into effect Monday was lifted at around 10 a.m. Tuesday, as air quality showed signs of improving.
A heat warning remains in effect for Ottawa, with hot, humid weather and a high humidex in the forecast.
The forecast for Tuesday is sunny with local smoke. The high is 32 C with a humidex of 40. The UV index is 9, or very high.
The air quality health index (AQHI) at 10 a.m. was 5, or a moderate risk, after briefly dropping to 4 an hour earlier. It is forecast to fall to 3, or low risk, on Wednesday.
'You may experience mild and common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. If you think you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate medical assistance,' Environment Canada says of the smoke.
The heat, however, also presents risks.
'Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water,' the heat warning says.
Meteorologist Crawford Luke says if you have to choose between staying indoors to avoid the haze or going outside to find a way to cool off, choose to cool off.
'The public health messaging is to treat the heat warning as the more serious one,' he told CTV News Ottawa on Monday. 'If that means you need to jump in a lake or a pool or something to keep cool, that's the recommendation from them. It's the more immediate health threat.'
The sky will remain clear, but hazy, Tuesday night. The overnight low is 20 C.
Wednesday's forecast is mainly sunny with a high of 33 C and a humidex of 41.
The heat warning for Ottawa is expected to end Thursday night. Thursday's forecast is cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of showers and a high of 30 C, while Friday's high is 26 C, which is closer to the seasonal norm.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Kimberley Johnson
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
20 minutes ago
- CBC
Summer skin care tips from a UBC dermatologist
Dr. Harvey Lui, head of the department of dermatology and skin science at UBC, says summer and extreme heat can worsen skin conditions. Here's what he says you can do about it.
CTV News
32 minutes ago
- CTV News
Experts warn to look for signs of dehydration as extreme heat reigns supreme
Another hot day reigns supreme in Central Ontario leaving people in a sweat. A heat warning is in place across parts of the province bringing high temperatures to the region. Dave Phillips, climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECC) said that residents are currently experiencing high pressure. 'And that's why the winds are not very strong, they're very light,' said Phillips. 'They don't even blow at all.' With the high temperatures, health officials like Dr. Brad Dibble recommend drinking water and cracking down on signs of dehydration. 'Lying down. Maybe somebody can assist because you might need to put something like a cold compress on your forehead to cool down,' said Dr. Dibble. 'Getting in shade and getting inside as soon as you can.' He added that drinking other fluids will not help beat dehydration. Centennial Beach Centennial Beach on July 15, 2025. (CTV News/ Luke Simard) 'So hydration is important all the way through your exertion and all the time that you're outside,' said Dr. Dibble. 'It's important to have water on the go and I mean water, not other things like caffeinated drinks or beverages that have a lot of electrolytes cause that sometimes doesn't do as well as water does.' Businesses like Napolean Home Comfort are seeing increases in service calls. Steve Gauci general manager of Napolean Home Comfort says there are many reasons for an air conditioning unit to fail. 'Age which is number one factor and number two is that they fail due to many different components failing,' said Gauci. 'Sometimes they are just dirty, and they need a good cleaning.' Technicians say the are ways to help preserve the longevity of your air conditioner and HVAC systems by cleaning your unit outdoors. 'That air conditioner sucks in dirt, grass, and all kinds of stuff so keep it clean,' said Gauci. 'The cleaner it is the more efficient it will run the better it will perform and the longer it will live. High temperatures will hold across the region until Thursday, according to officials. A cold front is expected to move in potentially bringing a chance of much-needed rain.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Australian firefighters arrive to help battle Saskatchewan wildfires
The province says 40 firefighters from Australia have arrived and 40 more from Mexico are expected soon to help battle wildfires across northern Saskatchewan. The firefighters from down south and down under are just the latest to travel to the province to assist with its ongoing fire season. Over the past several months, the province has received aircraft and personnel from Quebec, B.C., Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, PEI, Alberta and half a dozen U.S. states. In an update Tuesday afternoon, the province said that 50 wildfires are currently burning with 12 considered not contained. Nine communities are currently under evacuation orders, according to the province. Those are the Resort Subdivision of Lac La Plonge, La Plonge Reserve, Northern Village of Beauval, Jans Bay, Patuanak/English River First Nation as well as priority individuals from Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Northern Village of Pinehouse, Northern Village of Île-à-la-Crosse and Canoe Lake Cree First Nation/Cole Bay/Canoe Narrows. The province said evacuees should register through the Sask Evac Web Application and then call 1-855-559-5502 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Evacuees supported by the Canadian Red Cross are asked to call 1-800-863-6582. A fire ban also remains in place for the area north of Saskatchewan's provincial forest boundary up to the Churchill River. 'The fire ban prohibits any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks in the designated boundary. This includes provincial parks, provincial recreation sites and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District within the boundary,' the province said. More details can be found here.
