B.C. heat wave: Here's how hot it could get in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley this week
A heat wave passing through southeastern B.C. is expected to bring above-seasonal temperatures in the next few days, a special weather statement warns.
Environment Canada's notice says temperatures during the day are predicted to be about five to 10 degrees higher than normal for this time of year.
- Stay up to date with your local forecast here
- An 83-year-old temperature record was just broken in B.C.
A ridge associated with warm temperatures will move inland Tuesday, the weather authority says, which will lead to a couple cooler days mid-week.
But by the weekend, the heat is expected to return.
"The ridge will rebuild from Thursday onward and herald more dry and very warm conditions through the weekend," the weather statement says.
Environment Canada's notice covers Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Greater Victoria, Eastern and Inland Vancouver Island, Southern Gulf Islands, Howe Sound, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast.
Environment Canada predicts Vancouver's temperatures will reach 25 C and 24 C on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. On Wednesday and Thursday it's expected to be a little cooler and get no warmer than 22 C.
But on the weekend it could get as hot as 28 C on Saturday, Environment Canada's forecast for Vancouver shows.
The average high temperature for that day is about 20 C in the city and the highest temperature on Environment Canada's record for that day is 30.2 C, which was noted in 2002.
In parts of the Fraser Valley, it's expected to get even warmer. Chilliwack's forecast for the weekend says it could get as hot as 33 C on Saturday.
BC HYDRO EXPECTS HEAT WAVE TO BREAK RECORD
As the mercury rises all over British Columbia, analysts at BC Hydro are predicting electricity use will smash a summer record.
Sunday night already saw a significant increase over a week earlier.
“We’re definitely seeing numbers creep up, but we expect those to continue to go up higher and higher as it gets hotter and hotter this week,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Mora Scott.
Analysts are able to get real-time electricity readings, and usage is measured in hourly increments.
They figure “the peak hourly load” record will likely be broken between the hours of 5 and 6 p.m. when most people get home and begin cooking.
When it’s hot, customers also turn on their fans and air conditioners, and they eat up a lot of power.
“It’s definitely a possibility,” said Scott.
Hydro recommends customers close their blinds during the day, because that can keep up to 60 per cent of heat outside homes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.