It’s day four of the heat wave which has smothered parts of the island with sultry conditions not conducive to a good night’s sleep. Yesterday was a record breaker in St. John’s with the temperature hitting 30 degrees for the first time in almost a decade.

Rodney Barney, a meteorologist at the Gander Weather Office, says the previous high at YYT for that date was 28.9 in 1952.

It was the first time since 2013 that St. John’s reached 30.3 degrees. Records were also set in Badger, the hot spot for the province, where it got up to 32 degrees. Gander, Bonavista, Twillingate and the Burin Peninsula also set records.

The smoke is drifting downwind from forest fires 70 to 100 km southwest of Gander, and is heavily concentrated near the surface. Barney says smoke is expected to gradually disperse as temperatures rise and winds increase during the day.

People may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk.

Meanwhile, the province’s Chief Medical Examiner is warning the public about the dangers of extreme heat.

Dr. Nash Denic says exposure to high temperatures can cause serious illness or even death, especially for vulnerable populations.

He says children, the elderly and those living with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases are more likely to suffer serious side effects from heat.

Dr. Denic says while dehydration is the leading cause of heat-related illness, those with pre-existing conditions are at risk even while hydrated. He says people with pre-existing conditions have a higher risk of heart failure and stroke as a result of overheating.

Some of the symptoms of heat-related illness include dizziness, headache, and fatigue. Dr. Denic says if you are experiencing symptoms of heat stroke, you should be treated immediately.

He says the first step should be to cool the body down with a cold shower and to drink lots of cold water.