Warm temperatures continue in Southern Manitoba. Environment Canada Meteorologist Dale Marciski says temperature records fell Monday in Gimli, Gretna, Pinawa, McCreary, Shoal Lake and Swan River where daytime highs ranged from 32 to 34 degrees. Records were also broken Sunday at Fisher Branch, Melita and Pinawa.

Marciski notes it's very possible a few more records fell Tuesday. "The record high for Winnipeg 34.4 set in 1967 and that one is definitely at risk because we are talking about highs in the Winnipeg area of around 35 or 36 degrees." He notes most other records for Southern Manitoba for July 19th are in the 34 to 36 degree range, aside from Brandon and Portage which are more like 37 degrees.

Though Marciski says Environment Canada does keep records for consecutive days over 30 degrees, he notes " it's going to be very hard to break probably the all time record for a heat wave." Marciski says July, 1936 will forever be known for its heatwave that lasted nearly two weeks. "That's where we have temperature records that have never been broken actually. Some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded in several places across Canada. In fact we had temperatures as high as 44 degrees during that heatwave of 1936 and that's not the humidex, that was the actual temperature back then."

Speaking of humidex, an advisory was in effect for Southern Manitoba on Tuesday. "This is really for all of the southern half of the province, right from the American border, right up to places like Grand Rapids," said Marciski. A few places Tuesday were expected to experience humidex values around 47 or 48 degrees. "So that's incredibly uncomfortable if you have to be outside working in something like that. So certainly a lot of precautions necessary on a day like this."

The maximum humidex reading ever recorded in Canada happened on July 25, 2007 in Carman, Manitoba. On that day the humidex factor was 52.5 degrees. The record for Winnipeg is 47.2 degrees, reached on that same day.

For those who don't like it this hot, Marciski says there should be some relief arriving shortly. Winds are expected to shift to the west Wednesday which should mean the arrival of more normal conditions. "The temperature highs Wednesday would be around 27 to 29 across most of Southern Manitoba." Marciski says the wind shift could also set off some showers throughout Southern Manitoba today. That will help drop humidex values below 40 degrees for at least the next four days.

Marciski says this heatwave shouldn't come as much surprise. For starters, that's what Environment Canada had forecast for the summer of 2011. But also this is generally the hottest period of the year. "Mid July is for at least the Canadian Prairies, on average the hottest time of year and so it seems to certainly be following to that this year."

If you're out in the heat, Marciski suggests drinking plenty of fluids and staying out of the sun as much as possible. He also says it's important to check up on elderly neighbours or family members and even small children. "They often can't tell you how uncomfortable they are so watch for signs of them getting quite hot too."

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