PESHAWAR: Severe heat wave hit the provincial capital for the second consecutive day as temperature rose to 42 degree centigrade on Monday.

The weather remained hot for the last two days, bringing life to almost a halt as roads and bazaars wore a deserted look during the day because the dwellers opted to stay indoors due to the scorching heat.

The residents faced grave hardships because of electricity loadshedding. More than 8 to 10 hours loadshedding is being carried out in the provincial capital, creating water shortage and other problems.

The Met office forecast rain-thundershower with gusty winds at isolated places in Malakand, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan divisions during the next 24 hours.</s>

CTVNews.ca Staff





Six people died in Montreal over the Canada Day long weekend as an intense heat wave gripped large parts of the country.

Montreal’s extreme temperatures, which peaked at around 35 degrees Celsius on Monday afternoon, were linked to each of the deaths.

Public Health officials said most of the six victims lived alone and were diagnosed with chronic diseases or mental health problems. None of the victims had air conditioning, and they all lived in apartment buildings.

Not included in those numbers was the death of a six-year-old boy who drowned in an apartment pool on Monday. Witnesses say the small pool was at capacity at the time, and there was one lifeguard on duty.

The spate of deaths may seem high, but Dr. Mylene Drouin, Montreal’s regional director of Public Health, says it could have been much deadlier.

“Usually in a normal situation we have 10 deaths per day, so we're not in an excess of mortality,” Drouin said.

Regardless, the City of Montreal has rolled out emergency measures. Firefighters are knocking on doors in neighbourhoods with less greenery where temperatures can rise up to five degrees higher than the forecast high.

Fire crews are expected to knock on about 5,000 doors during the heat wave, and they will offer residents a cooler place to stay.

Montreal’s emergency medical service says it has received an influx of 300 more calls than usual. The agency said it is struggling to meet the demand of people who require transportation to hospital.

According to records, 106 people have died in Montreal due to heat since 2010.

Heat across Canada

Outside Quebec, sweltering heat was felt in four other provinces.

In Toronto and Ottawa, temperatures have remained well above 30 C since Friday. Humidex values this week were expected to reach as high as 43 C in southern Ontario, and Environment Canada issued a heat warning for the densely populated region.

A cooldown isn’t expected until Friday, when a cold front finally passes through.

Heat warnings were also in place for New Brunswick, P.E.I and Nova Scotia, where similarly intense conditions could push the humidex close to 40 on Thursday. Inland communities are hit harder than those along the coast.

The Atlantic heat wave is also expected to break by the weekend.

With files from CTV Montreal</s>The dangerous heat wave that's scorching most of the United States has been blamed for at least four deaths as more than 103 million Americans are warned to stay inside and keep cool.

Health officials are investigating two deaths that may be heat-related in Kansas City, Missouri.

The victims have not been identified, but authorities said one of the victims was a 83-year-old man and the other a 46-year-old woman.

On Saturday, Cheryl Snyder, 64, of Pennsylvania, went into cardiac arrest while working in her garden. The woman died a short time later a local hospital.

In Wilmington, New York, Nick Marshak, 30, died of a heat stroke he suffered while running a race.

Essex County Coroner Frank Whitelaw said the man's internal temperature reached 108 degrees, damaging his brain. Temperatures were in the 90s Sunday.

'When your brain becomes overheated like that, it can't function any more,' Whitelaw said.

On Tuesday, New Jersey Rep Bill Pascrell, was escorted from the fire headquarters in Englewood after nearly collapsing during a news conference to announce legislation. Temperatures reached the mid 90s in New Jersey on Tuesday.

The Fourth of July holiday isn't providing any relief from the intense heat wave stretching from the Midwest to the Northeast.

Meteorologists said residents in communities through the eastern half of the country can expect to see high temperatures past 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The nighttime will unfortunately be almost as uncomfortable, with lows failing to dip below the mid-to-lower 70s.

Weather experts from the National Weather Service said the heat wave is expected to move west after the Fourth of July, bringing dangerous temperatures as far as southern California.

The seven-day heat wave, which the NWS said occurs approximately once every 33 years, began in New York on Saturday.

Parts of New England experienced record-setting temperatures over the weekend, said Dan Petersen, an NWS meteorologist.

For the Fourth of July holiday, Petersen warned people celebrating outside to remain in the shade and drink plenty of fluids.

'Anyone outside in locations with expanded areas of heat is going to have to take precautions,' Petersen said.

'This is the peak of summer – the hottest time of the year.'

The NWS also issued an air quality alert on Tuesday, warning of excessive pollution levels in the New York area into the evening hours.

But later this week, a storm front is expected to roll through and cool down the eastern seaboard for the weekend, Petersen said, providing relief to Washington, DC, and Philadelphia on Friday night before heading down to the Carolinas.

In a reversal of normal patterns, Petersen said, the hot weather will head west, hitting the central United States late in the week before reaching Los Angeles and San Diego on Friday.

'The central part of the country is going to get hot and humid,' Petersen said.

'In Southern California, the heat coming out of the deserts will expand and go into the valley areas.'

The hot, gusty winds out West have wreaked havoc on states battling wildfires.

A growing wildfire destroyed more than 100 homes in the Colorado mountains, while other blazes across the parched West kept hundreds of other homes under evacuation orders Tuesday and derailed holiday plans.

Nearly 60 large, active blazes are burning across the West, including nine in New Mexico and six each in Utah and California, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

In Utah, authorities have evacuated 200 to 300 homes because of a growing wildfire near a popular fishing reservoir southeast of Salt Lake City amid hot temperatures and high winds.

Several structures have been lost since the fire started Sunday, but it's unclear how many, said Jason Curry of the Utah Division of Forest, Fire and State Lands.

Meanwhile, a wind-fueled wildfire in Northern California that continues to send a thick layer of smoke and ash south of San Francisco was threatening more than 900 buildings.

The massive blaze was choking skies with ash and smoke, prompting some officials to cancel Fourth of July fireworks shows and urge people to stay indoors to protect themselves from the unhealthy air.

At least 2,500 people have been told to evacuate as the so-called County Fire continues to spread, said Anthony Brown, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

So far this year, wildfires have burned 4,200 square miles in the US, according to the fire center.

That's a bit below last year's acreage to date - which included the beginning of California's devastating fire season - but above the 10-year average of 3,600 square miles.

Because of the Independence Day holiday, authorities are also concerned about the possibility of campfires or fireworks starting new fires because of the dry, hot conditions.

In Colorado, many communities have canceled firework displays, and a number of federal public lands and counties have some degree of fire restrictions in place, banning things like campfires or smoking outdoors.

In Arizona, large swaths of national forests and state trust land have been closed since before Memorial Day. Some cities have canceled fireworks displays because of extreme fire danger.

In New Mexico, all or part of three national forests remain closed because of the threat of wildfire, putting a damper on holiday camping plans. The forests that are open have strict rules, especially when it comes to fireworks.

'We're just urging people to use extreme caution,' said Wendy Mason, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico State Forestry Division.

'We want people to have fun and enjoy themselves, but we prefer they leave the fireworks shows to the professionals.'</s>The hundreds of thousands of people likely to visit local beaches this Fourth of July week will be met by large waves expected to build late Wednesday and last through Friday.

Another type of wave — a heat wave — is also on its way. Temperatures are expected to hit or exceed the century mark in many parts of Southern California in the coming days, including downtown L.A. Inland valley and foothill areas are expected to be even hotter. Those broiling conditions are expected to last through the weekend.

The heat wave could bring record temperatures to some areas, the National Weather Service says.

The sizable surf is the result of Hurricane Fabio, which on Tuesday was more than 600 miles southwest of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, according to the weather service.</s>July 3 (UPI) -- The heat wave blanketing the Northeast United States was deadly in Pennsylvania, and authorities are investigating two possible heat-related deaths in Missouri.

Officials Tuesday are warning people how serious the heat can be as nearly 60 million people remain under a heat advisory or warning, a condition expected through the July Fourth.

New York City could top 90 degrees for up to a week straight-- something the National Weather Service said only happens about once every 33 years.

"Heat related illnesses possible through this time period, especially for at-risk populations such as the elderly, very young, and those with mental illnesses," the NWS in New York warned.

Temperatures in New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Hartford, Conn., and Albany, N.Y., have been about 20 degrees above average during the heat wave, which is expected to stick around through Thursday.

A 64-year-old woman who had been outside working in her garden in Blair County, Pa., died of heat stroke last weekend, officials said.

In Kansas City, two deaths are being investigated, including a man in his 80s who died Monday and a woman in her 40s, who died last week, according to the city's health department.

Officials are warning people to "drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, and stay out of the sun."

The combination of heat and humidity in some places in the East are making temperatures feel like 100 to 110 degrees, with advisories and warnings from Virginia to Maine. In New York and New Jersey heat index values are up to 105.</s>This is day four of an extreme heat wave that is affecting much of our region.

Temperatures hit the mid-thirties again today with a humidex value into the mid-forties; dangerous conditions for many folks already struggling with health issues.

There's little relief from this heat if you're living in a building with no air conditioning

And for Ottawa firefighters today, it was their job to get out of the "frying pan" so to speak and into the fire.

This is not the way residents at an apartment building on Concord Street South wanted to start their holiday Monday. Fire broke out around 8:15 Monday morning, sending the 25 tenants scrambling to get out. Fortunately, they all managed to vacate safely; firefighters even rescued several dogs and cats.

“There are 9 units,” Captain Dan Cook said with Ottawa Fire Services, “There were a bunch of cats on second floor. We got everybody out.”

While residents watched, firefighters, working in teams, suited up and entered the building; an incredibly difficult job in the stifling heat of the day.

“Imagine putting on one hundred pounds of gear and working,” said Captain Cook, as fire crews rotated through the building, “It's tremendously stressful.”

For the folks living here, it will be some months before they will be able to return. The fire has forced them out of their homes.

At an apartment building on Russell Road, it is the stifling heat that has forced them out, in search of a piece of shade and a hint of wind.

“Oh, it's got to be a hundred, got to be that,” says Phil Freda, who lives on the eighth floor, “The windows are all open. What else can I say?”

Elaine Allard lives on the top floor, 11 storeys up, and says it's unbearable.

“I have osteoporosis, and he's sick person,” she says, referring to her husband, “and we're suffering. Even my fridge broke down yesterday.”

Over in Gatineau, patients at the Hull Hospital are feeling the heat. While some parts of this old building are air conditioned, the building itself doesn't have central air.

Pat Brennan's father has been here for a few days - just before the heat hit.

“I'm a little concerned about my father and whether he's dealing okay with the lack of air conditioning in the hospital,” he says, “So we're going to go check on him.”

The hospital has set up fans and a protocol during this heat wave, leaving blinds closed, dressing patients in light clothing and adapting the menu, offering tomato juice, for instance, instead of soup.

“It's a little warm on the sunny side,” says one man whose wife is in the ICU on the third floor, “but like I say, they're putting fans if someone asks.”

Maybe almost as bad as having no air conditioning is having an air conditioner that doesn't work. In Kanata, Joel Larocque has several fans going inside his home after his air conditioner conked out just as the heat wave started.

“It's not great. It's not great at all,” he says, “and I feel sorry for people who never have air conditioning.”

There is relief on the way but not for a few days to come. In the meantime, there are some nasty thunderstorms sweeping through the area, causing multiple power outages and even knocking some trees down.</s>The heat wave hits Day 4 a day before the Fourth of July, but there's a new wrinkle in Tuesday's forecast.

Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories continue through 9 p.m. Tuesday for much of the region as heat index values are again expected to rise to between 99 and 105 degrees for inland areas.

Morning fog will lift, followed by hazy sunshine and then thunderstorms. The storm chance starts at around 1 p.m. and continues through the evening.

The storms will bring some relief from the oppressive humidity with the heat wave expected to end on Independence Day, with the high temperature failing to hit 90 degrees for the first time since Friday. (A heat wave is defined as three days or more of a high temperature of 90 degrees or higher.)

It will be a partly sunny Wednesday with a high around 86 degrees.

There is about a one in five chance of pop-up showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. and through the evening, though it is unlikely to threaten evening fireworks celebrations or outdoor activities.

Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.</s>As many as 16 people have died in Quebec from complications related to the extended period of hot and humid weather hitting much of Eastern and Central Canada.

With the muggy temperatures expected to persist for at least another two days, authorities are urging people to be vigilant.

Montreal health officials say 11 people have died since the intense heat set in over the weekend, with health authorities in the Eastern Townships region east of Montreal attributing another four deaths to the sweltering temperatures. A fifth fatality may also have been caused by the heat, they said.

Dr. Melissa Genereux, head of public health in the Eastern Townships, told a news conference Wednesday the victims are all adults — either seniors or people suffering from chronic illness. The deaths were not concentrated in any specific municipality.

"There are still two days left of particularly hot weather with particularly high humidex levels," Genereux said. "We're inviting the population to be vigilant for the next two days — for themselves as well as those close to them."

Officials across the province are advising people to drink plenty of water and check in on neighbours or relatives and get them to a place where air conditioning is available.

"It could save a life," Genereux said.

Environment Canada says a heat warning remains in effect for an area spanning southwestern and northeastern Ontario through southern Quebec and into the Atlantic region, with above normal temperatures and humid conditions likely to stick around into Thursday.

In Montreal, police and firefighters continued to go door to door in areas identified as having people considered at high risk: those with chronic illness or mental-health problems, those who live alone and people without air conditioning at home.

Dr. Mylene Drouin, head of public health for the Montreal region, said the number of fatalities has risen since authorities first announced six deaths on Tuesday, but that the spike is not unexpected.</s>(Reuters) - A heat wave blanketing the northeastern United States is expected to move west after the Fourth of July, bringing dangerous temperatures as far as southern California, the National Weather Service (NWS) said on Tuesday.

An excessive heat warning is in effect through Tuesday night, with heat index values – which combine temperature and humidity – in New York City reaching 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41°C).

A seven-day heat wave, which the NWS said occurs approximately once every 33 years, began in New York on Saturday. Parts of New England experienced record-setting temperatures over the weekend, said Dan Petersen, an NWS meteorologist.

At least one heat-related death has been reported since the heat wave began late last week - a Pennsylvania woman who died while working in her garden on Saturday. Another death, of an elderly man in Kansas City, was being investigated.

For the Fourth of July holiday, Petersen warned people celebrating outside to remain in the shade and drink plenty of fluids.

“Anyone outside in locations with expanded areas of heat is going to have to take precautions,” Petersen said. “This is the peak of summer – the hottest time of the year.”

The NWS also issued an air quality alert on Tuesday, warning of excessive pollution levels in the New York area into the evening hours.

But later this week, a storm front is expected to roll through and cool down the eastern seaboard for the weekend, Petersen said, providing relief to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia on Friday night before heading down to the Carolinas.

In a reversal of normal patterns, Petersen said, the hot weather will head west, hitting the central United States late in the week before reaching Los Angeles and San Diego on Friday.

“The central part of the country is going to get hot and humid,” Petersen said. “In Southern California, the heat coming out of the deserts will expand and go into the valley areas.”</s>As many as 16 people have died in Quebec from complications related to the extended period of hot and humid weather hitting much of Eastern and Central Canada.

With the muggy temperatures expected to persist for at least another two days, authorities are urging people to be vigilant.

Montreal health officials say 11 people have died since the intense heat set in over the weekend, with health authorities in the Eastern Townships region east of Montreal attributing another four deaths to the sweltering temperatures. A fifth fatality may also have been caused by the heat, they said.

Dr. Melissa Genereux, head of public health in the Eastern Townships, told a news conference Wednesday the victims are all adults — either seniors or people suffering from chronic illness. The deaths were not concentrated in any specific municipality.

"There are still two days left of particularly hot weather with particularly high humidex levels," Genereux said. "We're inviting the population to be vigilant for the next two days — for themselves as well as those close to them."

Officials across the province are advising people to drink plenty of water and check in on neighbours or relatives and get them to a place where air conditioning is available.

"It could save a life," Genereux said.

Environment Canada says a heat warning remains in effect for an area spanning southwestern and northeastern Ontario through southern Quebec and into the Atlantic region, with above normal temperatures and humid conditions likely to stick around into Thursday.

In Montreal, police and firefighters continued to go door to door in areas identified as having people considered at high risk: those with chronic illness or mental-health problems, those who live alone and people without air conditioning at home.

Dr. Mylene Drouin, head of public health for the Montreal region, said the number of fatalities has risen since authorities first announced six deaths on Tuesday, but that the spike is not unexpected.
A heat wave throughout Eastern Canada kills six people in Montreal.