Smog advisories were issued for much of southern Ontario on Friday, with a hot and sunny Canada Day long weekend expected to draw crowds into cottage country.
Environment Canada says that Friday’s clear skies and high of 31 C is only the beginning of gorgeous temperatures expected over the weekend.
Highs of about 30 C are expected through Monday, and the forecast calls for nothing but sunshine and light wind gusts.
A heat alert remains in effect in Toronto and the province’s environment ministry has issued a smog advisory for much of southern Ontario.
The nearly ideal forecast has provincial police expecting busy highways as Torontonians flee to nearby lakes and cottage, beginning Friday.
Ontario Provincial Police say they will be targeting aggressive and distracted drivers through the Canada Day long weekend.
Officers will be patrolling provincial highways in search of people who are not wearing seatbelts or appear to be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“We will have every available cruiser, motorcycle and boat out this weekend and we will be highly visible and well-resourced to deal with driving behaviours that continue to take innocent lives,” said OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis said in a statement.
The OPP said that 146 people have been killed on OPP-patrolled roadways through the first half of 2012.
Three people died on Ontario highways during last year’s Canada Day long weekend. Another person died in a boat crash on a lake and another lost their life in an ATV incident.