Heat warnings issued as temperatures set to soar Monday

Environment Canada is warning of a looming heat wave that's set to descend on the Ottawa area. Yellow-level alerts have been issued for a wide swath of eastern Ontario and western Quebec.

Environment Canada is warning of a looming heat wave that's set to descend on the Ottawa area. The weather agency issued yellow-level heat warnings for wide swaths of both eastern Ontario and western Quebec on Sunday afternoon. Monday's daytime high in Ottawa sits around 31 C, with a chance of showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Tuesday will likely see the peak of the heat wave, Environment Canada said, with Ottawa's daytime high expected to hit 36 C. People should be on the lookout for signs of heat exhaustion, which include headaches, dizziness, thirst and fatigue, the weather agency said. Anyone who is showing signs of heat stroke should call 911, they added. More seasonable temperatures will likely arrive Wednesday or Thursday evening, Environment Canada said.

Much of the region had been under air quality warnings due to Quebec wildfire smoke earlier on the weekend but those were lifted Sunday afternoon. Even so, Environment Canada notes that the impending hot and humid air could cause air quality to once again deteriorate.