A heat warning is in effect for parts of southern B.C. through to Tuesday (Aug. 12), with temperatures reaching up to 35 C in some places.
Environment Canada issued the warning on Monday (Aug. 11) for the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Canyon, the North and South Thompson, the south Okanagan, east and inland Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and Whistler.
In the Lower Mainland early this week with temperatures expected to reach as high as 33 C. Highs of 33 degrees are forecast by Environment Canada through Tuesday (Aug. 12) with overnight lows near 17 degrees Celsius before cooling on Wednesday (Aug. 13).
On east and inland Vancouver Island, temperatures are expected to reach as high as 30 C, with lows of 16 C.
In the Fraser Canyon, North and South Thompson and the South Okanagan, temperatures are expected to reach as high as 35 C, with lows of 18 C.
Elevated temperatures are expected, leading to a moderate risk to public health, according to the warning.
鈥淒ue to strong northwesterly wind over Strait of Georgia, southwestern section of Metro Vancouver as well as areas near the water will likely get a reprieve from the heat, but over northeast and inland section, daytime high temperatures will reach low 30s,鈥� the warning said.
According to Environment Canada and local health officers, an increase in health and safety risks from heat is also expected. Precautions include checking on at-risk family, friends and neighbours, watching for early signs of heat illness, staying hydrated and moving to cooler environment.
鈥淗eat affects everyone, but the risks are greater for: seniors, people who live alone, people with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory disease, people with mental illness such as schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety, people with substance use disorders, people with limited mobility,鈥� the warning reads.
