Heat wave sent 39 Toronto residents to emergency rooms between June 30 and July 4
Peak temperatures of 36°C and a humidex of 48 drove heat-related hospital visits, with 15 recorded on the hottest day, July 2.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Toronto Public Health reported 39 heat-related emergency room visits between June 30 and July 4, when an orange-level heat alert from Environment Canada was in effect across the region.
The peak came on July 2, the hottest day of the week, when 15 heat-related ER visits were recorded. The week saw a maximum temperature of 36°C and a humidex reading that climbed to 48.
The numbers reflect the immediate crisis — but Toronto Public Health cautioned that ER data doesn't capture the full scope of heat's health impact. Worsening cardiac and respiratory conditions, though linked to extreme heat exposure, often go unreported in emergency department tallies.
Comparison to last year's June heat wave is limited by differences in timing and duration, and by Environment Canada's shift in its warning system, according to health authority spokesperson Dane Griffiths. Last June saw 42 people in emergency rooms over a three-day heat event, while this year's five-day alert stretched the impact differently. Canada Day celebrations may also have affected who was in the city seeking care.
The severe heat prompted the cancellation of World Cup match broadcasts at Nathan Phillips Square on Thursday and additional cooling measures at other FIFA venues.
