News

June 14 – The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit has joined the province’s Heat Warning and Information System for dealing with heat events during the summer.

 

The evidence-based system will make it easier to understand when a Heat Warning will be declared, and make the criteria for declaring a warning common across multiple geographic regions.

 

“This past summer, there were a number of record high temperatures. This can result in serious health consequences” says Shanker Nesathurai, Haldimand-Norfolk’s Medical Officer of Health. “This system will help us to better communicate these heat events to residents. Our goal is to help people remain safe and healthy.”

 

A Heat Warning will be issued when two consecutive days are forecasted to have a daytime high of 31 degrees Celcisus or above and a nighttime low of 20 degrees Celsius or above, or a humidex value of 40 degrees Celsius or more.

 

An Extended Heat Warning will be issued when a heat event meeting these criteria lasts longer than two days.

 

The Environment and Climate Change Canada Ontario Storm Prediction Centre will issue Heat Warnings 18-24 hours before an anticipated event.

 

The system is a collaboration between the health units, the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, Public Health Ontario, Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit can be contacted at 519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.