Third heatwave hits Metro Vancouver Wednesday

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A special weather warning has been up for days, and now the heat has arrived in Metro Vancouver.

Temperatures are going to poke up into the mid 30s across the South Coast starting Wednesday. 

“A massive area of high pressure is orienting itself from around Utah stretching down into New Mexico and then working all the way up toward the B.C. coast,” NEWS 1130 Meteorologist Michael Kuss said. “Temperatures are going to push up into the mid 30s As a result for inland sections of the coast, and even near 30 degrees right on the water.”

That’s about 10 degrees above normal and potentially record breaking. 

“Especially for Thursday, that looks like the hottest day of the bunch, where we could see highs, 35 to 37 degrees,” Kuss said.

The last of the somewhat comfortable mornings for a few days. Lows may not get much below 20 degrees Friday to Sunday. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/lvHbddGfcs

— Michael Kuss (@Kusswx) August 11, 2021

The peak of the wave is expected Thursday, and nighttime lows aren’t expected to dip below 17 C.

For the rest of the week and through the weekend, temperatures could hit the high 20s to low to mid-30s in some parts of the province.

In some areas further east, like Pitt Meadows, it may feel like the low 40s.

Areas that will feel the heat the most are the Sea to Sky region, parts of Vancouver Island, the Thompson-Okanagan, the southern Kootenays and Fraser Canyon.

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The difference between this round of hot weather and June’s deadly heatwave is the overnight lows will be in the mid-teens.

You’re urged to take precautions like staying indoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wear sunscreen of at least 30 SPF, and drink lots of water.

You should also monitor for signs of heat-related illness such as dizziness, nausea, headache, shortness of breath, swelling of hands and feet and extreme thirst.

Lower Mainland at drought level 4

The ongoing dry weather in the Lower Mainland has gotten so bad the region is at a drought level 4, the second worst level. The South Coast, North and South Thompson, Lower Columbia, West Kootenay, Vancouver Island, and Gulf Islands basins are also all under drought level 4.

The province is asking everyone to help conserve water effective immediately until rain returns.