Heat waves grip Canada; northern Manitoba evacuations spread

Canada's first intense heat wave of the summer is gripping much of the country, trapping heat and humidity across a vast area while northern Manitoba communities face escalating wildfire emergencies.

Various parts of Canada are currently in a heat dome — a phenomenon where a large area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere acts as a reservoir that traps heat and humidity. Southwestern Ontario and large portions of the east are under heat warnings, with some areas expecting humidex values reaching 45°C. Large parts of Ontario are under extended heat conditions, with Toronto issued an orange heat warning. The hottest days are expected to be Wednesday and Thursday, with maximum temperatures of 34 to 36 degrees Celsius and minimum overnight temperatures of 21 to 24°C providing little relief.

Those most at risk include older people, infants and young children, people with chronic illness or those taking certain medications, and people who work outdoors. Health Canada recommends checking on vulnerable people multiple times a day. Early symptoms of heat stroke include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine, and intense fatigue — immediate emergency services should be called if these occur.

Meanwhile, growing wildfires in northern Manitoba have prompted three communities to declare states of emergency and begin evacuations. Lynn Lake residents were told to leave on Saturday, with the town reporting that favourable weather conditions allowed crews to begin strategic burn operations to protect the community. The final flight for evacuees from the community of fewer than 600 people departed for Brandon on Sunday. Nearly 110 members of Marcel Colomb First Nation, located less than 50 kilometres outside Lynn Lake, were also evacuated on Sunday. More than 200 kilometres away, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation is currently evacuating priority residents as road access on Highway 493 was cut off by fire. The Red Cross, Indigenous Services Canada, and other agencies are supporting evacuation efforts, with just under 200 evacuees from the nations being assisted to Winnipeg or Brandon.