Close X
Monday, November 18, 2024
ADVT 
National

Heat wave spreads from B.C.'s south coast to southern, central Interior

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Aug, 2023 09:34 AM
  • Heat wave spreads from B.C.'s south coast to southern, central Interior

Health authorities and local and provincial governments across British Columbia are urging caution as a sweltering heat wave that began on the south coast this weekend has now prompted 41 warnings or special weather statements across the southern and central Interior.

Environment Canada says temperatures in several areas, from the Boundary and Okanagan to parts of the North Thompson and Kootenay were expected to see highs of 39 C though the day.

Kamloops and sections of the south coast, including Chilliwack, Nanaimo and parts of Metro Vancouver, were not forecast to reach those highs on Monday, but the weather office says that with humidity, the areas could feel like they are also nudging 38 or 39 C.

As the heat arrived on the south coast, Environment Canada says seven record highs were set Sunday across of province.

A high of 37.8 C was registered in the Hope area in the eastern Fraser Valley, breaking a 13-year-old record by three degrees.

Other highs included 35.2 C set in Agassiz, two degrees hotter than the previous record set in 2010, while the Malahat area of southern Vancouver Island reached 33.2 degrees, one-tenth of a degree hotter than the old record set in 2021.

The province's hottest temperature yesterday was recorded near Lytton, at 39.8 C, breaking a 2007 record.

Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health say temperatures are a key factor in determining health risks, noting that it can take hours for people's bodies to cool and for physiological strain to decrease after high temperatures occur.

Environment Canada expects heat warnings and special weather statements will be posted across the southern half of B.C. for most of this week as well above-seasonal daytime temperatures combined with elevated overnight temperatures will offer little relief from the heat.

Cooling centres have opened in many areas, including Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Kamloops and Osoyoos, and EmergencyInfoBC says a total of 147 centres are available around the province.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has said a repeat of the 2021 heat dome, which claimed more than 600 lives, is not in the forecast but is warning people to take precautions to stay out of the heat, drink water and limit activity.

MORE National ARTICLES

CMHC is predicting home prices and sales will fall

CMHC is predicting home prices and sales will fall
Chief economist Bob Duggan says home ownership will be less affordable in the near-term because of higher mortgage rates and high price levels. He also expects rental affordability will likely decline as well.   

CMHC is predicting home prices and sales will fall

Hot spell hikes risks of flooding, avalanches and fire across British Columbia

Hot spell hikes risks of flooding, avalanches and fire across British Columbia
The River Forecast Centre website says temperatures are expected to be at least 10 degrees above normal for many areas of the province right through the weekend before cooler weather and rain arrive next week.

Hot spell hikes risks of flooding, avalanches and fire across British Columbia

New flat rate of 2 dollars per hour for parking meters in Chinatown

New flat rate of 2 dollars per hour for parking meters in Chinatown
Mayor Ken Sim says the community has called the cost of parking a barrier to visiting and doing business in Chinatown. The new flat rate will take effect June 1st and run from 9 a-m to 10 p-m, seven days a week.

New flat rate of 2 dollars per hour for parking meters in Chinatown

Supreme Court to rule on Surrey six slayings appeal

Supreme Court to rule on Surrey six slayings appeal
Lawyers for Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston argued last October that the men were wrongfully denied a chance to give evidence about "egregious" police misconduct and cruel in-custody treatment that tainted their convictions.

Supreme Court to rule on Surrey six slayings appeal

Surrey schools face double-decker portables, program cuts, says Falcon, school board

Surrey schools face double-decker portables, program cuts, says Falcon, school board
Falcon told the Legislature Wednesday that instead of removing school portables, the numbers have doubled in six years of NDP government and some schools are now considering placing portables on top of each other, creating "double-decker portables."

Surrey schools face double-decker portables, program cuts, says Falcon, school board

Robbery at a Victoria jewelry store, suspect arrested

Robbery at a Victoria jewelry store, suspect arrested
Victoria police say they've arrested a suspect in a brazen daylight robbery at a jewelry store. They say the suspect entered the store on April 15th armed with a hammer and stole a number of items from three display cases before fleeing.

Robbery at a Victoria jewelry store, suspect arrested