British Columbians urged to prepare for rising temperatures

People across B.C. are being urged to prepare for higher temperatures, with the mercury set to soar in parts of the province in the coming days.

The provincial government says though it’s “not currently anticipating an extreme heat emergency,” conditions are expected to get hotter and drier.

The heat is expected to start as early as the weekend, continuing into next week.

The province is warning that elevated temperatures can create a higher risk of heat-related illness, noting people should have a plan to stay cool.

In recent heat waves, municipalities have opened cooling centres and spray parks to help locals beat the heat. People are encouraged to seek out such spaces, as well as do things like take a cold shower and keep hydrated.

British Columbians are also being asked to identify and check on vulnerable family members, friends, and neighbours who may be more at risk in heat events.

The warning from the province comes after a deadly heat dome last year. More than 600 people died and many others were left ill after temperatures spiked in the summer of 2021.

Learnings as a result of the extreme weather event have led to some changes. B.C. announced earlier this year that it was expanding its Alert Ready system to cover such events.

In June, the province announced a new stream of funding for communities affected by extreme heat “to provide funding to communities for heat risk mapping, assessment, and planning.”

Temperatures rose into the mid-40s in some parts of southern B.C. last year, with overnight lows also not providing people with relief for several days.

The coming heat is not expected to near those temperatures, though they are expected to be elevated.

Related articles: 

• What went so wrong in the lead-up to B.C.’s deadly heat dome?

• After the heat dome, finding out if B.C. can better handle emergencies in the future

• What’s changed in B.C.’s emergency response one year after the heat dome?

Vancouver could hit temperatures of 28 to 30 degrees this weekend.

Meanwhile, though it may be tempting to cool off by taking a dip in the ocean, lake, or river, the province is reminding you that bodies of water remain quite cold for this time of year, given the cooler and wetter spring that just passed.

If you do plan to go for a swim, you’re asked to be aware of the cooler temperatures and know the risks of prolonged exposure to colder water.

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