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Windsor breaks daily temperature record

Windsor is one of several Ontario communities to break daily temperature records on Thursday.

The temperature touched 37.6 C at the Windsor airport Thursday, making the city one of 12 Ontario communities to break a daily record.

The city's previous record of 35.4 C was set in 1998, according to Environment Canada.

Forecasters said the intense humidity made it feel closer to 50 in Windsor.

The health unit has extended the heat alert until at least Sunday. Officials were encouraging people to drink water and stay in an air-conditioned building.

But even some people with air conditioning were feeling the heat: the temperature was 29 C inside Cindy and Ray Lanoue's LaSalle home after their air conditioner broke. The couple had to sleep in their basement.

Air-conditioning contractor Bill Pillon said his company was fixing broken units around the clock. It expected to get 1,200 calls by Sunday.

Jodi Stone brought her kids to a splash pool in Windsor. "It's unbelievably hot and humid, so we decided to get the kids out and get them cooled off because it's just too hot at home," she said.

Her four-year-old son James took a break from splashing through the water to list off the must-do's for staying cool, which include drinking juice and eating ice cream.

Cheryl Justice, a LaSalle resident, has been without her pool all through the latest heat wave. She said her two kids have been irritable and bored staying indoors.

"Very thankful for electronics. They've been on the computer a lot and on their iPods a lot," said Justice.

On Wednesday, there were few people walking outside. But business was brisk at Devonshire Mall, one of Windsor's public cooling centres.

"We're seeing a lot of young families, a lot of children, a lot of strollers, lots of babies, so it's been a fun day for the kids," said Karen Niforos, marketing director at the mall.