B.C. breaks temperature records amid brief heat wave
Wednesday’s heat wave, which gripped much of southern British Columbia, broke a number of temperature records in the province.
Environment Canada issued a number of heat warnings this week, with the mercury expected to soar again Thursday.
“A strong ridge of high pressure is bringing a short lived heat wave to British Columbia,” said Environment Canada in an advisory.
The following areas set daily maximum temperature records Wednesday.
Comox:
New record: 31.6 C
Previous record set in 1977: 30.4 C
Courtenay:
New record: 31.6 C
Previous record set in 1977: 30.4 C
Gibsons:
New record: 31.1 C
Previous record set in 2012: 30.9 C
Lillooet:
New record: 38.2 C
Previous record set in 1977: 37.8 C
Pemberton:
New record: 37.0 C
Previous record set in 1977: 36.1 C
Sechelt:
New record: 31.1 C
Previous record set in 2012: 30.9 C
The hot weather will continue through Thursday.
Experts say the hottest time of the day will be late afternoon to early evening.
Many beaches, lakes and spray parks around Metro Vancouver were busy with families trying to beat the heat Thursday morning.
That included Sasamat Lake in Port Moody.
“We're gonna stay here at the beach until it gets too hot. I think we're not gonna stay too long,” said Susanne Carlson, a mom from Coquitlam, as her kids played in the water.
“'I’m happy with like, 20-something degrees. So when it gets into the 30s I'm not super happy,” she said with a laugh.
Carlson and her friend Sabine Ciochetti said their priority was keeping their children out of the heat.
“Just a little more careful, particularly with the kids just making sure they stay cool and hydrated and stuff like that,” said Ciochetti.
“We're here for the beach because it's going to be hot so the house was too warm. Spend time in the water,” Ciochetti told CTV News.
Health officials are warning that extreme heat can negatively affect anyone.
However, the risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.
“Watch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions,” wrote Environment Canada.
During an earlier heat wave this summer, 16 British Columbians died from heat exposure so far this summer.
However, temperatures have not reached the highs seen during last year’s heat dome that led to more than 600 deaths.
“For the Lower Mainland, this is our third hot spell of the year and we've seen the heat warning criteria triggered,” said Bobby Sekhon, a Meteorologist with Environment Canada.
Temperatures are expected to moderate on Friday.
“But next week, we will see a gradual rise in temperatures Thursday, Friday. That's where we're going to likely see our peak in temperatures next week," Sekhon said.
"Whether those temperatures are high enough to get the heat warning criteria remains to be seen, but certainly something we're going to be looking at."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.