No rain relief in sight for crews battling Metro Vancouver park fire after 'warmest September in history'
After one of the driest months on record in Metro Vancouver, Environment Canada says it will be a week to 10 days before the region sees any rain.
This is not good news for crews battling forest fires, including a growing wildfire in Coquitlam’s Minnekhada Regional Park.
Not only has it been dryer than normal, it’s also been a lot warmer.
“In Vancouver, Victoria, Abbotsford, and including some other places in B.C., it’s going to be the warmest September in history,” said Yimei Li of Environment Canada.
Nine B.C. communities set high temperature records on Saturday, following a month in which several other days broke records.
Smoke from the park wildfire could be seen all over Metro Vancouver Sunday, especially on the North Shore.
“You could really feel it, and smell it, and I could certainly feel it in my chest,” a cyclist in the area told CTV News.
Minnekhada park has been closed to ensure safety and help crews put the fire out. The public has also been asked to avoid the area. However, the regional district said in an update on social media that "there is no concern for evacuation and no structures are threatened."
Li expects Environment Canada to reveal more record-breaking statistics Monday that will show just how remarkably warm and dry it’s been. Many parts of the province are currently in a Level 4 drought, the second-highest rating on the province's five-point scale.
“Usually by mid- or the end of September we should switch to a rainy season, however we haven’t seen that so far this year,” Li said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
BREAKING 15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members today during a ceremony at British Columbia's legislature cenotaph commemorating the Second World War's Battle of the Atlantic.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwaters
A child in Texas died Sunday after being swept away in floodwaters as storms swept across the state.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.