weather alert

UPDATE 3:00 PM

A large portion of the northwest is dealing with extreme heat.

Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for communities from Thunder Bay east to the Manitoba boundary, and north as far as Pickle Lake.

Meteorologist Ray Houle says a cold front is forecast to move southward across the region late Monday.

“Areas like Kenora and Thunder Bay should expect the heat warning to last for the next couple of days, but areas like Red Lake and Sioux Lookout, this should be the last day of the heat warning,” he says.

Air quality statements are also in place for several areas including Red Lake, which is dealing with a large number of forest fires.

Houle says the smoke is expected to continue affecting the air quality in the Red Lake area for the forseeable future, and the wind could bring more smoke from fires to the rest of the region.

He notes the weather service could extend the special air quality statement “towards Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, maybe even all the way out to Thunder Bay are for tomorrow,” adding the cold front could clear much of the smoke out on Tuesday.

Environment Canada warns you to watch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions.

Update 1:45PM ET:

A severe thunderstorm watch is out for most of the Northwest outside of the City of Thunder Bay.

Environment Canada says storms may bring wind gusts near 100 kilometres per hour and nickel- to ping pong ball-sized hail.

Hot weather is still hanging over the region.

A heat warning is still in effect for most places south of Red Lake.

Environment Canada’s forecast has highs in the upper 20s into the 30s for the areas outside Thunder Bay west to the Manitoba border.

That is expected to cool down tomorrow but temperatures could go up again later in the week.

A heat warning for most of the Northwest now includes the City of Thunder Bay.

The region is expecting temperatures in the low 30s, feeling like almost 40, with the overnight low near 20.

It’s affecting almost the entire region other than some parts of the far north.

Environment Canada Severe Weather Meteorologist Brian Osiak says the weather will cool down on Monday. He adds that the temperatures will start to climb again later in the week, however, and we may see another heat warning by Thursday.

The agency says the health risks from extreme heat are greater for young children, pregnant people, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.

Environment Canada warns you to watch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions.

Extreme heat continues across the region.

Heat warnings are in effect for the Northwest for another day as temperatures will again reach near 30 degrees.

Environment Canada says the hot weather will continue over the next few days, with highs for the region staying between 27 and 29 through Tuesday.

Meteorologist Henry Fung says the high temperatures won’t let up for the “foreseeable future.”

Overnight lows will range between 16 and 20 degrees, staying cooler near Lake Superior.

The Red Lake – Ear Falls, Kenora – Nestor Falls, Dryden – Ignace, Sandy Lake – Pikangikum, and Sioux Lookout – Savant Lake areas are all under both a heat warning and a severe thunderstorm watch.

Another heat warning for the northwest.

Environment Canada says the temperature will be near 30 degrees today and Sunday, and feel as high as as 37 degrees in some areas.

The overnight lows will stay around 19, providing little relief from the heat. Environment Canada says the high temperatures raise your risk of heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

The weather is expected to cool down on Monday.