Close X
Monday, December 2, 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

B.C. under fire after accounting firm accused of conflict in running grant

B.C. under fire after accounting firm accused of conflict in running grant
British Columbia Premier David Eby says the government has asked the auditor general to review the province's grant programs after allegations of conflict-of-interest from a clean-technology company. The development comes after Merritt, B.C.-based electric-hybrid truck maker Edison Motors said in a TikTok video that accounting firm MNP was both administering a CleanBC grant and offering to provide services to aid businesses in applications. 

B.C. under fire after accounting firm accused of conflict in running grant

Crown blames most of Ali murder trial delays on defence and 'extraordinary events'

Crown blames most of Ali murder trial delays on defence and 'extraordinary events'
A Crown lawyer says holdups to the trial of a man found guilty of murdering a 13-year-old Burnaby, B.C., girl were mostly attributable to the defence and "discrete exceptional events," as he argued against the case being thrown out over delays.  Daniel Porte told a B.C. Supreme Court judge that if those events were subtracted, the remaining delays to Ibrahim Ali's trial would have amounted to about 25 months, falling within the allowable threshold.

Crown blames most of Ali murder trial delays on defence and 'extraordinary events'

Arrests in northern B.C. over allegations of trafficking safe-supply drugs

Arrests in northern B.C. over allegations of trafficking safe-supply drugs
Police in Prince George, B.C., say they have arrested two people over allegations they were trafficking safe-supply drugs that are prescribed as an alternative to the toxic drug supply in the province. RCMP say they acted on tips from the public and information from other investigations to gather enough evidence to detain the two suspects who were "seen allegedly exchanging illicit drugs for safer supply drugs."

Arrests in northern B.C. over allegations of trafficking safe-supply drugs

Witnesses needed to come forward in Surrey police shooting case

Witnesses needed to come forward in Surrey police shooting case
Police in Surrey are asking for witnesses in a case last month where an officer shot and seriously injured a fleeing suspect. Surrey Mounties say two Surrey Police Service officers were patrolling on foot on March 17th when they got a call about a man with a gun.

Witnesses needed to come forward in Surrey police shooting case

Bleak outlook for the housing market

Bleak outlook for the housing market
Economists say it could take months before consumers regain confidence and create a rebound in Canada's housing market, but a pent-up demand remains in places like BC. TD Bank economist Rishi Sondhi says the Canadian housing market is akin to a coiled spring, and significant demand in B-C and Ontario could be sparked by activities such as an interest-rate cut.

Bleak outlook for the housing market

Rain and snow warnings for BC

Rain and snow warnings for BC
Environment Canada has issued rain and snow warnings for parts of southwestern B-C as a moist Pacific frontal system moves into the region. The weather agency says North Vancouver and West Vancouver may see as much as 50 millimetres of rain in the next 24 hours, leading to possible washouts near rivers and creeks.

Rain and snow warnings for BC