A heat wave has settled over parts of British Columbia, and Environment Canada and the provincial government have expanded their warning of high temperatures into next week.
The expanded warnings include the Sunshine Coast and Howe Sound, where daytime highs are forecast to reach 32 C.
The hottest temperatures are expected on Sunday. Environment Canada had already issued heat warnings for eastern Vancouver Island, where daytime highs are expected to hit the low 30s.
Another warning covers the Kitimat and Terrace regions, where highs near 30 C were expected Saturday until Tuesday night.
“There is a great deal of uncertainty about how long this hot stretch will persist,” the weather agency said of temperatures that were initially forecast to begin trending down mid-next week.
A joint statement from B.C.’s ministries of health and emergency management, as well as the provincial health officer, said Environment Canada was expected to expand warnings to the Interior as the heat spread from west to east.
A special weather statement was also in effect for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, where temperatures are set to reach into the high 20s and low 30s.
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The forecast for Kamloops, B.C., said the mercury was expected to hit 40 C on Monday and Tuesday, followed by 39 C on Wednesday.
In the northern community of Fort Nelson, B.C., highs between 29 C and 32 C were expected from Sunday to next Wednesday. The entire community was evacuated for more than two weeks this spring due to the threat of an early-season wildfire.
The province’s statement says that for many in B.C., these will be the first high temperatures of the season, and people should take care to monitor their health.
Environment Canada said the heat posed a “moderate” risk to public health.
It encouraged people to watch for signs of heat illness—including heavy sweating, rashes and fainting—and to check in on friends and neighbours who may be at greater risk, especially if they live alone.
“Right now, it looks like [next] Wednesday is the day for a change in the air mass,” said Armel Castellan, a warning preparedness meteorologist with the agency.
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B.C.’s heat alert and response system is the result of work by a committee struck in January 2022 to help the province respond to extreme heat events.
It followed the deadly heat-dome event of summer 2021 when temperatures soared above 40 C in many communities between June 25 and July 1.
The B.C. Coroners Service reported 619 heat-related deaths that summer.
Castellan said the current heat wave will be different because temperatures aren’t expected to surpass the heat-warning criteria by such large margins.
The provincial statement also noted that wildfire activity is expected to increase with the hot, dry weather after a “relatively quiet” few weeks.
There are currently no wildfires of note, referring to blazes that threaten public safety or infrastructure.