The city of Toronto advises caution at one of its beaches due to elevated levels of E. coli in the water.

The city said on its website yesterday, Sunday, that E. coli levels at Centre Island beach "exceed" acceptable water quality standards.

The latest results, which are based on a sample collected on August 16, show that the E. coli count is 176 per 100 milliliters of water. The city’s beach water quality standard is 100 E. coli bacteria per 100 mL of water.

While none of the other beaches in Toronto have been marked as having high E. coli levels, the latest samples were collected one day before the heavy rainfall that Toronto experienced last Saturday.

It is known that water quality at the city’s beaches deteriorates after severe storms and flooding, like the one last Saturday that resulted in over 100 mm of rain in some parts of the city.

The city stated on its website, "Swimming is not recommended during and after storms or flooding or heavy rain."

While the city experienced hot and humid weather yesterday, Sunday, with temperatures reaching 25 degrees Celsius, feeling like 33 degrees Celsius with humidity – the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) also advises people to refrain from recreational activities around water bodies, as many of them have overflowed due to the rainfall.

Toronto remains under a rainfall warning as well, with expectations of more than 20 to 40 mm of rain at some point today.