Record-breaking temperatures could be on the way for Metro Vancouver this weekend, and Environment Canada has issued special weather statements for the British Columbia interior.
On the coast, where breezes from the ocean keep the air somewhat cooler, temperatures are expected to be anywhere from 24 to 26 degrees. But in the Southern Interior, temperatures could reach the low-to-mid 30s on Sunday and Monday.
Many Vancouverites got an early start to the weekend on Friday, hitting the beaches to enjoy the warm weather. But high temperatures can also be dangerous.
Environment Canada is reminding residents of the Okanagan Valley that hot, dry weather can lead to increased wildfire risk.
And in Surrey, the warm weather is already being blamed for potentially serious accident. Emergency crews rushed to an apartment building on 105th Avenue Thursday afternoon after a four-year-old boy climbed over the railing of a second-storey balcony and fell more than three metres.
The boy left his family's apartment through a patio door that had been left open due to the warm weather.
He climbed onto a chair that was leaning against the railing, then climbed over the top of the railing, falling two storeys onto the soft ground below.
RCMP say a neighbour witnessed the accident and helped the boy get back inside his apartment.
When paramedics arrived, the boy was not showing any signs of being injured but was transported to hospital as a precaution.
Police are now reminding parents to be mindful about leaving windows and doors open as the temperatures climb.
Warm weather can also be a problem for senior citizens, who are advised to stay indoors and stay hydrated to avoid heat stroke.
Reminders are also being issued that it only takes a car two minutes to become unsafe in extreme heat. Pets and children should not be left in vehicles, even with the windows down.
With files from The Canadian Press
