Another heat wave is coming to B.C. It's time to plan how you're going to stay cool, officials say
CBC
A significant heat wave expected to hit British Columbia early next week has led provincial authorities to ask people to take precautions.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said while the temperatures won't approach the extremes of the 2021 heat dome, the prolonged spell of hot weather in the forecast will increase the risk of heat illness.
"It's the accumulated stress of heat over time, that's why we need to be concerned," she said.
Temperatures are expected to reach the high 20s to high 30s, depending on location, with the warming trend starting Sunday on Vancouver Island and the South Coast before moving east.
The heat isn't expected to be anywhere close to the extremes of two years ago because the summer solstice has passed and shorter days and longer nights allow for more cooling to take place.
Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma said local officials have been alerted and are preparing community supports, including setting up public cooling centres.
She asked that people monitor the indoor temperature of their home.
"Indoor temperatures of 31 C or higher can be dangerous, especially for people who are more vulnerable to heat. As part of your preparations, it's important that you identify a space outside of your home where you can cool down should temperatures inside your home become unsafe," she said.
The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed last month it is investigating three potential heat-related deaths from earlier in the summer.
In 2021, 619 people died from the heat during late June and early July, when temperatures rose well above 40 C in parts of the province.
Ma also sounded the alarm once again about B.C.'s "unprecedented" drought and the need for people to conserve water.
Of B.C.'s 34 water basins, 28 remain at the most extreme drought levels of 4 or 5. Last year at this time only a few water basins were at Level 2, while in 2021, it wasn't until the end of September that a single basin reached Level 5.
"This level of extreme drought has never been seen in the province before," she said.
The wildfire situation in the province is holding steady with crews across B.C. keeping a close eye on the backcountry after recent lightning storms raised the potential for smouldering fires to erupt before the next hot spell arrives.
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