Residents of Quebec and Ontario have been encouraged to seek out cool, air conditioned areas as temperatures in both provinces are expected to climb within the next few days.
A warm, humid air mass moved into Quebec this weekend, bringing record-breaking high temperatures to a large part of the province. The thermometre read  33 degrees Celsius, beating out the old record set in 1952, at 32.8 C.
Environment Canada issued high heat and humidity warnings for southern and central Quebec, predicting humidex values that made it feel like 40 C on Saturday afternoon.
Under the warning, people are urged to limit physical activity, drink lots of water and regularly check on those who may be vulnerable to heat such as seniors and children.
Similarly, a special weather statement has been issued for southern Ontario, where temperatures are also expected to climb over the next few days.
Areas from Toronto to Haliburton are expected to see the mercury hit temperatures in the low to mid-30s this weekend and through to Wednesday.
“If you like that kind of weather, we’re in for quite a hot spell,” CP24 reporter told CTV News Channel on Saturday. “If not, you may need to seek out some shade.”
An average high for southern Ontario around this time of year, according to Environment Canada, would range between 25 and 28 C.
Some reprieve is expected in southern Ontario on Sunday, when isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected to drive temperatures down.
Unusually high temperatures have gripped several parts of Canada in recent weeks.
On the West Coast, uncharacteristically hot weather prompted heat warnings and rolling blackouts around Alberta early last week.
Around the same time, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were confronted with temperatures as high as 31 C in Saskatoon and Winnipeg.
South of the border, a widespread drought is affecting crops in the U.S. Midwest.
The drought follows a heat wave in which more than 170 all time temperature records were broken or tied, according to the U.S. National Climatic Data Centre.