Sultry summer weather has arrived early and with a vengeance.

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for much of the Kawarthas region, including Peterborough, Kawarthas Lakes, and Northumberland.

Temperatures will soar again to 29°C on Tuesday (May 26), to 32°C on Wednesday, and to 30°C on Thursday.

Humidex values will make it feel like it’s 36°C each afternoon.

Some relief is expected near the shorelines of the Great Lakes.

A cold front will deliver considerably cooler and less humid air to southern Ontario on Friday.

Environment Canada issues heat warnings when very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.

Drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty and stay in a cool place.

Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the Kawarthas region — including Peterborough, Kawarthas Lakes, and Northumberland — due to hot daytime temperatures expected from Tuesday (May 25) through Thursday.

Daytime highs in the low thirties are expected.

Nighttime temperatures will drop below 17°C, giving some relief to the heat.

While Environment Canada is monitoring the regions for a possible heat warning, at this time the main concern is afternoon high temperatures.

Humidex values may also be in the high thirties.

A cold front will bring lower temperatures and scattered showers to the region on Friday.

The City of Peterborough has cancelled the 2020 Canada Day Parade on Wednesday, July 1st to help prevent the spread of illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The health and well-being of residents is our priority,” says Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien. “During these difficult times, let’s celebrate Canada Day apart — but together.”

Therrien suggests Peterborough residents celebrate Canada Day with their household, and by decorating front porches or balconies as a way to celebrate with neighbours.

For an up-to-date listing on municipal services in Peterborough affected by the COVID-19 emergency, visit peterborough.ca/COVID19.

Unlike the large crowds who gathered at Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods Park on Saturday (May 23), Cobourg residents respected physical distancing and restrictions on public gatherings this past weekend — including at the popular Victoria Park and Beach — according to the Cobourg Police Service.

Police say the park and beach saw daytime visitors only, in small groups and adhering to public health guidelines, on both Saturday and Sunday.

“Cobourg residents have been doing their part to fight the spread of COVID-19, and we thank them for that,” says Cobourg police chief Paul VandeGraaf in a media release. “Unlike other towns and cities this weekend, Cobourg community members continued to follow the new guidelines released by the town on Friday. We would like to thank residents for their continued effort and cooperation. Your actions are making a difference.”

To date, Cobourg police have issued four violations under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act — including one issued to a business in downtown Cobourg that opened its outdoor patio to serve customers on Saturday night (May 23).

Cobourg police say they have been using a collaborative and educational approach in enforcing the province’s emergency orders, laying charges only as a last resort, and that this approach has been effective.

“Cobourg residents continue to demonstrate their commitment to the health and safety of the community,” police state in a media release.

The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha wanted to thank some of the people in our community who are working to keep the shelves stocked and food on our tables during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So last Friday (May 22), Rotarians visited three grocery stores in Peterborough to distribute Tim Hortons gift cards to workers.

The three grocery stores, which were chosen through a random draw, were No Frills on George Street, Farmboy on Lansdowne Street, and Foodland on Hunter Street.

A total of 100 gift cards, each worth $5 at Tim Hortons, were distributed to the grocery store workers.

In a media release, Kawartha Rotary says the workers were pleasantly surprised by this unexpected gesture.

The hot weather being forecast for next week is raising questions about the potential for crowds at beaches and parks in the Kawarthas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Monday, Environment Canada is forecasting a high of 29°C (with the humidex making it feel like 34°C), followed by two days of 30°C temperatures on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Along with the many municipally operated parks, there are almost 100 public beaches across the Kawarthas. This will be the first time during pandemic that we’ve experienced several days in a row of hot weather, raising concerns that crowds of people may flood parks and beaches to find relief from the heat — especially since municipal splash pads and wading pools remain closed.

That’s what happened on Saturday (May 23) at Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto, when an estimated 10,000 people packed themselves into the park after it was reopened to the public.

Almost everyone in the crowd was ignoring physical distancing guidelines and there were many individual groupings of more than five people, breaking the province’s emergency order that prohibits such gatherings. And, contrary to the recent recommendations of both the federal and provincial governments, there was not a face covering in sight.

“People were engaging in just incredibly disappointing behaviour,” says Toronto mayor John Tory, who said he will considering closing the park to the public if flagrant violations of public safety directives continue.

Trinity Bellwoods Park today, May 23rd #Toronto #Ontario #COVID?19 pic.twitter.com/cBCwWuHchd

— Peter Svidler (@SvidlerP) May 23, 2020

While police officers were at Trinity Bellwoods Park, they did not issue any tickets as they felt they could not safely navigate the crowds to do so.

In Peterborough, the popular beaches at Beavermead Park and Roger’s Cove remain closed, as do splash pads and wading pools in parks. However, picnic areas and shelters at parks have reopened.

The parking lots at Beavermead Park and Roger’s Cove were filled with cars on Saturday (May 23). Although most people appeared to be adhering to physical distancing directives, there were some small gatherings of people fishing and having picnics.

In Kawartha Lakes, all outdoor recreational amenities remain closed, including all beaches.

In Cobourg in Northumberland County, while splash pads and wading pools in parks remain closed, the municipality has reopened its popular Victoria Beach.

Town council decided on May 11th to keep the beach open and enforce physical distancing guidelines, rather than to close the beach and erect fencing and barriers while the province’s state of emergency continues.

On the Victoria Day long weekend, hundreds of people were on the beach according to deputy mayor Suzanne Seguin. Some councillors expressed particular concerns about out-of-town visitors coming to the beach, and agreed to revisit the issue at its next meeting on June 1st.

In the interim, by-law officers will be monitoring Victoria Beach to enforce the restriction on gatherings of more than five people.

After 12 days of daily increases of less than 400 for new COVID-19 cases in the province, Ontario has seen four straight days of increases of over 410 cases, leading some people to speculate whether warmer weather earlier in May has increased the spread of the virus. On Sunday (May 24), there were 460 new cases — the highest daily increase since May 7th.

The story has been updated with the latest COVID-19 case count from Ontario Public Health.