Ottawa braces for extreme heat as storm cleanup continues after record rainfall
Temperatures expected to hit 32°C Friday as the city recovers from Canada Day flooding that set a new rainfall record and left thousands without power.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ottawa is sweltering under an orange-level heat warning Friday as the city counts the damage from one of its worst flooding events on Canada Day.
Intense rainfall set a new Ottawa record on Wednesday, forcing road closures, cancelling Canada Day celebrations, and leaving 36,000 households without power at the storm's peak. Firefighters responded to over 700 reports of downed wires and electrical hazards. By Thursday, 5,300 homes were still without power, with Hydro Ottawa working to restore service. Over 1,000 people near Queensway Carleton Hospital remain in the dark due to submerged hydro equipment that must either be pumped out or left to recede naturally — both processes take time.
The city confirmed 1,900 flooded basements in the hours after the rain. Councillor Tim Tierney reported Friday that conditions have improved, with some trees down and only about a dozen homes still without power.
Environment Canada is warning residents to monitor for heat-related illness, which can present as headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine, and intense fatigue. The agency recommends limiting time in the sun, closing blinds, and using air conditioning where available. Temperatures are expected to reach 32°C on Friday, continuing the extreme heat that began Wednesday.
