Heat wave topples temperature records in southern B.C., as conditions raise wildfire fears

The latest on the heat wave:

The 10 hottest communities in Canada on Monday were all located in British Columbia and forecasters expect the sizzling temperatures will continue for at least a few more days across the province's Interior.

The Fraser Canyon communities of Lytton and Lillooet both broke the 40 C mark on Monday, with Lytton reaching 41.4 C and Lillooet only slightly below at 40.7 C, marking the first time the 40 C threshold has been recorded broken anywhere in Canada this year.

Environment Canada says Lytton and Lillooet were among 17 communities from Vancouver Island to southeastern B.C. that set daily heat records on Monday. Others included Kamloops (37.8 C), Pemberton (39.5 C), Pitt Meadows (33.5 C), Port Alberni (37.5 C), Vernon (37.3 C) and Whistler (36.7 C)

With high humidity, the weather agency warns many areas could feel hotter than 40 C.

Environment Canada says overnight lows across southern B.C. didn't dip much below 20 C, further complicating the wildfire situation while adding to the risks facing elderly and vulnerable people who can't escape the ongoing heat wave.

More stories on the B.C. heat wave:

Provincial power utility B.C. Hydro said Tuesday that it also set a new record for the highest peak hourly demand in August on Monday night.

B.C. Hydro said in a statement that consumption reached over 8,400 megawatts, with a heat wave usually adding 1,000 megawatts of power use, equivalent to switching on one million portable air-conditioning units.

"While the demand for power is higher-than-average with the hot temperatures, B.C. Hydro wants to assure its customers that its renewable and reliable, hydroelectric system can meet the additional demand," the statement reads.

The conditions are a concern for the B.C. Wildfire Service, which says around 380 wildfires are currently burning across the province, 162 of which are considered out of control.

Eleven are classified as fires of note, meaning they are highly visible or threaten people or property.

Fire information officer Sarah Budd says a cold front from the northwest is due Thursday and will hit the high-pressure system bringing all the heat, creating strong winds, dry lightning and the potential to add to the province's already challenging wildfire season.

"Unfortunately, this hot weather is also coming along with relatively high winds,'' Budd said in an interview Tuesday. "We could see gusts up to 50 or 60 kilometres per hour today out of the west.''