Large areas of Canada are experiencing a severe heatwave, accompanied by thunderstorms and a marked deterioration in air quality; authorities expect record temperatures in the coming days.

Toronto tops global list of cities with worst air quality

Authorities in Toronto urged residents to stay indoors after the city topped the global list of cities with the worst air quality due to heavy smoke from wildfires; they also issued an orange alert, stressing the need to avoid direct sunlight and drink plenty of water to maintain public health.

The warnings also covered several other Canadian provinces, with forecasts of felt temperatures reaching around 45 degrees Celsius; meteorologists indicated the possibility of tornadoes in parts of Quebec and New Brunswick.

Experts explained that the extension of a high-pressure system from the United States to Canada contributed to the rise in temperatures, exceeding normal levels for this time of year.