Thermometer-busting heat to last into weekend

Children cool off in a fountain on the site of the Montreal International Jazz Festival Tuesday, July 6, 2010 in Montreal as a heat wave hits the eastern part of Canada. With Central Canada expected to be blanketed by heat and smog for the rest of the week, people are being advised to find a nice cool place to chill out.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

With Central Canada expected to be blanketed by heat and smog for the rest of the week, people are being advised to find a nice cool place to chill out.

Temperatures for southern Ontario and Quebec are expected to be in the 30s but with the humidity, it'll feel like 40C or hotter.

Environment Canada is calling for high heat and humidity warnings for southern Quebec.

And the agency says Ontario will officially be in a heat wave later today when the temperature rises above 32 degrees for a third consecutive day.

The extreme heat is being accompanied by smog and by warnings from public health officials for people to take care, particularly those with cardiac or respiratory problems.

Hydro officials in both Ontario and Quebec say they are expecting higher than usual electricity consumption today, but nothing they can't handle.