The intense heat that has settled into British Columbia this week is a formidable dose of summer for the region. Temperatures broke the 40-degree mark indoors, marking the first time we’ve seen a 40C reading in Canada so far this year. The heat will continue throughout the weekend, with a wildfire risk and potential health issues throughout. More on what to expect over the weekend, below.
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The ridge responsible for the heat extends into the weekend
The heat in BC is nowhere near the historic heat we saw last year, but it’s a formidable period of extreme temperatures that has broken records, fueled wildfires and posed a health threat to vulnerable populations of the entire region.
The upper-level ridge responsible for bringing warm temperatures to the West Coast this week will stick around for at least a couple more days. Heat advisories remain in place for most of the province.
This familiar pattern will send daytime high temperatures into the 30s for many communities through the end of the week. We’re even poised to see a few days of high temperatures in the 40s in parts of the interior, including Osoyoos, where highs could top the 40-degree mark each day through Sunday.
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It’s not a dry heat either. The excessive heat is made worse by relatively high dew points across the region. The humidity makes the heat even harder on your body by disrupting your ability to cool yourself through sweat.
To make matters worse, nighttime low temperatures remain on the warmer side due to the additional moisture in the air, preventing residents without the proper means of cooling off from experiencing significant overnight relief. This heat stroke during the day and sweltering nights increases the risk of heat-related illnesses in vulnerable populations.
To put the heat in perspective, Vancouver’s seasonal high during the last week of July is around 23°C. Not much relief is expected in the evening and overnight as temperatures will be in the upper teens to mid 20s.
The heat is expected to peak in the Lower Mainland and interior through Friday, and we could see temperatures reach 40 degrees in parts of the latter. Dry thunderstorms and lightning are possible with increased wildfire risk.
On Friday, the ridge will flatten out a bit and temperatures will moderate, but it will still be hot. The heat will fade over the weekend, with the return of seasonal and dominant temperatures next week. However, very dry weather will persist for the next 7-10 days, with wildfire risk likely to remain high or extreme.
Canada’s first reading of 40 degrees was recorded on Tuesday
This latest hot spell allowed Lytton, B.C., to hit Canada’s first 40C reading of 2022 on Tuesday. Several other inland communities followed suit on Wednesday, with a stretch of high temperatures in the 40s that last until the weekend in some places.
Lytton’s location in the Fraser Valley routinely gives this town some of the hottest weather seen in Canada.
The city made international news last year when it broke the all-time record for Canada’s highest temperatures for three consecutive days, reaching a whopping 49.6°C on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. A wildfire fueled by the historic heat wave wiped out most of the population. city the next day.
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There are several forest fires ongoing throughout the province
Dry conditions, combined with extremely steep terrain in the Fraser Canyon, have caused the Nohomin Creek wildfire to grow in size and may continue to do so in the coming days. It has now expanded to 2,364 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service, as of Tuesday morning.
Aerial images of fire activity on the western flank of the Nohomin Creek Wildfire (K70580) north of the Stein River were captured today, July 25. This section remains the most active and burns in rough terrain. pic.twitter.com/X0COl8dZzo
Aerial images of fire activity on the western flank of the Nohomin Creek Wildfire (K70580) north of the Stein River were captured today, July 25. This section remains the most active and burns in rough terrain. BC Wildfire Service on Twitter: “Aerial images of fire activity on the western flank of the Nohomin Creek Wildfire (K70580) north of the Stein River were captured today, July 25. This section remains the more active and burning. rough terrain. pic.twitter.com/X0COl8dZzo / Twitter”
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) BC Wildfire Service on Twitter: “Today, July 25, aerial images of fire activity were captured on the western flank of the Nohomin Creek Wildfire (K70580) north of the Stein river. This section continues to be the most active and is burning in rugged terrain. pic.twitter.com/X0COl8dZzo / Twitter”
On Monday afternoon, fire activity increased in response to continued hot and dry conditions. As of Tuesday, he has made no further progress. Temperatures will continue to climb into the mid to upper 30s this week, while relative humidity will drop into the teens.
As a result of the wildfire, air quality is poor in nearby communities due to smoke. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a special air quality statement for the Fraser Canyon, including Lillooet and Lytton.
Check back often for updates on this impactful heat event across BC