Lakeland issued heat warning ahead of long weekend

A heat warning was issued for the Lakeland region Thursday morning, as temperatures are set to rise to near 29 degrees Celsius combined with overnight lows ranging between 14 to 16 degrees Celsius. 

The heat warning was issued because the high-temperatures are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion. 

Everyone is asked to take the following precautions to protect themselves, their families, and their neighbors: 

• Consider rescheduling outdoor activities to cooler hours of the day. 
• Take frequent breaks from the heat, spending time in cooled indoor spaces where possible. 
• Drink plenty of water and other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages to stay hydrated. 
• Check for your children or pets before you exit your vehicle. 

Environment Canada asks everyone to monitor for symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as high body temperature, lack of sweat, confusion, fainting, and unconsciousness. Pet owners are also asked to not leave their pet inside a closed vehicle, for any length of time. 

Temperatures are expected to drop back down towards more seasonal highs by Saturday