Heat warnings issued for areas of northwestern Ontario with hot temperatures expected into weekend

Environment Canada is warning of a multi-day heat event in parts of northwestern Ontario that's expected to stretch into the weekend.

The agency issued heat warnings early Thursday morning for much of the western part of the region, including the Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Ignace, Ear Falls and Sioux Lookout areas.

A heat warning is also in effect for areas of the far north, including Pikangikum, Sandy Lake and Deer Lake First Nations.

On Thursday afternoon, Environment Canada issued a heat warning for the City of Thunder Bay.

A warm air mass is expected to arrive over northwestern Ontario starting Thursday, causing temperatures to soar.

Daytime highs are expected to be near 30 C, with humidex values near 35. There will be little relief during the night as lows are expected to be near 19 C, according to Environment Canada.

A cooler air mass is expected to settle over the region by Sunday night.

The heat waves come after much of Western Canada saw sweltering temperatures earlier this week.

Jennifer Smith with Environment and Climate Change Canada told a news conference Monday the "epicentre" of the heat was located in Northern California. The heat in the west was expected to last until about mid week, before moving eastward into Ontario.

Earlier this week, an unrelated heat wave also sent temperatures into the 30s in Atlantic Canada.

Environment Canada is warning extreme heat can affect everyone's health and the agency is reminding people to take extra care as temperatures rise in the northwest.

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"Drink plenty of water regularly, even before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration," reads the warning issued by the agency. "Never leave people, particularly children, or pets inside a parked vehicle."

The government of Canada also has a number of sun and heat safety tips available online.

Even with rising temperatures, the wildfire hazard across northwestern Ontario remains mostly stable. According to Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services, the wildland fire hazard is low to moderate throughout the region, with isolated pockets of high hazard in all sectors of the region. 

As of Wednesday evening, seven forest fires were burning in northwestern Ontario. Just one was considered to be not under control by the province.