The mercury rose to a sweltering 39.1 C in parts of B.C. Tuesday as the first heat wave of 2018 bakes the province.

Environment Canada renewed heat warnings and special weather statements spanning from Fort Nelson to Greater Victoria as a high pressure ridge stuck around for a fourth day.

Warnings are in effect for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Fraser Canyon, 100 Mile, Cariboo, Peace River and Fort Nelson regions.

Temperatures reached the high 20s to mid-30s Tuesday and are expected to again on Wednesday, but when combined with the humidity, it may feel as warm as 40 in some areas.

The hottest place in all of Canada Tuesday afternoon was Lytton, B.C., where the temperature reached 39.1. Prior to Tuesday, the hottest June 19 on record in the village was in 2004, at 34.2 C.

Environment Canada has yet to confirm whether records were broken, but based on data collected during the day it appeared that it was also the hottest June 19 in Lillooet (34.7 C), Nelson (30.3), Merritt (33.2) and Pemberton (34.7).

The humidex was not significant in some of the areas, but it felt like 31 in Nelson, 35 in Merritt and 38 in Pemberton, Environment Canada's data showed.

Initial data posted by the weather agency Tuesday evening suggested records had also been broken in Blue River, Burns Lake, Clearwater, Fort Nelson, Mackenzie, Puntzi Mountain, Quesnel, Stewart, Tatlayoko Lake and Valemount.

In the Vancouver area, the temperature reached 24 by 4 p.m. near the water, but further inland, cities saw temperatures in the high 20s. With the humidity, it felt more like the low 30s.

The temperatures felt in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley during the heat wave is more than 10 degrees above what is normal for this time of year.

Those who spent the day in Whistler saw a high of 31. The Whistler region was one of 19 that fell under heat-related special weather statements earlier in the day. Most were renewed in the afternoon, including statements for: inland Vancouver Island, Howe Sound, north and central coast, Dease Lake, Bulkley Valley, Williston, Prince George, Chilcotin, north and south Thompson, Shuswap, Nicola, the Okanagan Valley and Similkameen.

Statements for the Sunshine Coast, eastern Vancouver Island and Greater Victoria were no longer in effect by 5 p.m. For details on individual statements and warnings, visit Environment Canada's B.C. Alerts page.

The heat is expected to hover over B.C. until Thursday, as the high pressure ridge begins to break down, the forecast predicts.

The summer-like warmth that settled in Saturday also broke temperature records in some communities Monday, where temperatures ranged from the high 20s to high 30s.

In Lytton, the high was a whopping 37.8 C. Pemberton was 37.4, Lillooet was 37.1, Comox was 33.3, and the Malahat Summit reached 32.1. Records were also broken in Kitimat, Nakusp and Stewart.

While temperatures were not as high in most of Metro Vancouver, Pitt Meadows reached 32.8 and the high topped 30 in Delta, Surrey and North Vancouver.

Records could also be broken Wednesday with similar highs in the forecast for the areas that fall under Environment Canada advisories.

In addition to temperature records, officials said Monday was a record day for hydro consumption.

"The heat wave we're experiencing has caused an increase in overall electricity demand across the province," BC Hydro's Tanya Fish said Tuesday.

Demand reached 7,300 megawatts Monday evening, which Fish said is about 10 per cent higher than the same time last week.

As in the winter, BC Hydro encourages customers to stay energy efficient on hot days.

"We do encourage people to shade their windows. This is actually the most effective way to keep about 65 per cent of the heat out of your home," Fish said.

While the temperatures in Metro Vancouver are not uncommon in cities like Toronto during the summer, the highs are unusual for the area. Environment Canada works with local health authorities to determine when warnings should be issued, and bases the decision on when health is at risk.

Adapting can be hard, especially when the temperature rises suddenly, doctors say.

The forecast prompted the City of Vancouver to set up eight temporary water fountains, urging people to drink more, take it easy and watch for signs of heat stroke.

Risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illness and those who work or exercise outdoors, Environment Canada advised.

Those in affected areas are advised to drink lots of water, and stay in shaded areas or air-conditioned places when possible. Swimming pools and cool showers or baths can help combat the health risks.

People and pets should never be left in parked vehicles.

The public is also warned to be wary of the high UV index, which was at eight in some areas Monday and Tuesday.

"It does mean you want to be extra cautious to protect your skin and your eyes, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.," Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan said.

This time of year – the days around the summer solstice – the sun is at its highest and so is the UV index. The highest readings are typically between late June and the beginning of August.

For the latest forecast and weather warnings, check out CTV Vancouver's new (and free) weather app! Click here to find out more information including how to download it to your smartphone or tablet.

With files from CTV Vancouver's Penny Daflos and Ann Luu