Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. heat records tumble, Environment Canada to provide update on heat wave

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Jul, 2024 09:39 AM
  • B.C. heat records tumble, Environment Canada to provide update on heat wave

Nearly two dozen daily temperature records have fallen as a heat wave continues in British Columbia, pushing the mercury over 40 C in some areas.

A summary from Environment Canada shows 22 daily high temperature records fell across the province on Sunday, including one that had stood for almost 120 years.

The mercury hit 38.3 C in the Kamloops area breaking the previous record of 35.6 for July 7 set in 1906.

Cache Creek, B.C., was a hot spot on Sunday, with a daily high of 40.3 C, breaking the record of 36.9 set in 2015.

New daily records have also been set in the northeastern B.C. community of Fort Nelson, as well as Williams Lake in central B.C., Smithers in the northwest, Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast.

Temperatures today are forecast to hit 41C in the Interior village of Lytton, 27 C at Vancouver's airport and 39 C in Kamloops.

Environment Canada says the heat wave brought in by a ridge of high pressure is expected to persist until about mid-week.

The weather office had issued more than 40 heat warnings in B.C. by Sunday.

It says the high temperatures pose a "moderate risk" to public health, and the risks are greater for seniors, people who live alone, and those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, respiratory illness, or mental health challenges.

Officials with Environment Canada are scheduled to provide an update later today on persisting "hot weather conditions" in Western Canada.

The alerts in B.C. cover much of the lower third of the province as well as parts of the northeast, inland sections of the central and north coasts, the Sunshine Coast, Whistler, Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and parts of Vancouver Island.

While the weather office says some of the heat warnings are expected to be lifted by Tuesday, particularly along the coastline and on east and inland Vancouver Island, other regions can expect the high temperatures to continue.

It says temperatures in the southern Interior are expected to climb into the low 40s this week, before moderating on Thursday.

MORE National ARTICLES

Cybersecurity standards emerging in Canada as ransomware business booms

Cybersecurity standards emerging in Canada as ransomware business booms
The ransomware business is booming in Canada. Recent victims have included large corporations such as retailer London Drugs, as well as the City of Hamilton, Ont., and the government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Cybersecurity standards emerging in Canada as ransomware business booms

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate for first time in more than four years

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate for first time in more than four years
The Bank of Canada cut its key interest rate for the first time in more than four years Wednesday, marking a major turning point in its fight against inflation. With the quarter-percentage-point cut, the central bank’s key interest rate now stands at 4.75 per cent.

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate for first time in more than four years

Machete wielding carjacking

Machete wielding carjacking
A woman has been charged after allegedly stealing a taxi cab while wielding a machete. Victoria police say the woman requested a ride to several places on Friday night and when the cab driver asked her to pay up, she allegedly threatened the driver with a machete and drove off with the taxi.

Machete wielding carjacking

Privacy commissioners investigate B.C. firm that does background checks for landlords

Privacy commissioners investigate B.C. firm that does background checks for landlords
The privacy commissioners of Canada and British Columbia have launched an investigation into a Victoria-based company that performs background checks on tenants and others. They say in a joint statement that Certn is being assessed to make sure it complies with the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and B.C.'s Personal Information Protection Act.

Privacy commissioners investigate B.C. firm that does background checks for landlords

B.C. school district investigates exam asking pupils to argue if Israel should exist

B.C. school district investigates exam asking pupils to argue if Israel should exist
The school district in Burnaby, B.C., has launched an investigation into what it says was a harmful exam that asked students to make arguments about whether Jewish people deserve or need a homeland.  The question was posed by a teacher to Grade 6 and 7 students in an elementary social studies exam. 

B.C. school district investigates exam asking pupils to argue if Israel should exist

Home sales in Metro Vancouver fell nearly 20%

Home sales in Metro Vancouver fell nearly 20%
The number of homes changing hands in Metro Vancouver last month fell nearly 20 per cent from the same time last year, though new properties were coming online. Greater Vancouver Realtors says it recorded just over 27-hundred sales last month, down from 34-hundred sales recorded in May 2023.

Home sales in Metro Vancouver fell nearly 20%