B.C. expecting hotter-than-normal summer: ECCC

With summer officially kicking off on Wednesday, British Columbians are being told to start preparing for a sweltering few months ahead.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has released its summer outlook, predicting dry conditions and higher-than-normal temperatures until at least the end of August for most of the country.

“June has already brought above-normal temperatures across the northern Prairies, northern Ontario, and northern Quebec,” reads the summer outlook. “Throughout the summer, higher temperatures are expected to persist in these regions, as well as in the rest of Ontario and Quebec, British Columbia, and Atlantic Canada.”

Happy Solstice. 16 hours and 15 minutes of daylight. Sunset not until 9:22 in Vancouver. A few weak showers possible with late day clearing. Highs near 19C. @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/Rtf5jkgXPF

— Michael Kuss (@Kusswx) June 21, 2023

The agency also cautions Canadians to monitor conditions and take weather alerts seriously since many parts of the country “are already experiencing the devastating impacts of wildfires.”

“In anticipation of a warmer, drier summer and its associated severe conditions, Canadians are urged to regularly monitor weather forecasts, take all weather alerts seriously, and get prepared for weather-related events by developing an emergency plan,” ECCC adds.

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• Juneuary is back; snow expected on B.C.’s Interior mountain passes

• Crews ready to protect key northeast B.C. highway, but cooler weather slows wildfires

• Is B.C. in for a bad wildfire season?

ECCC says climate change has affected the duration and intensity of extreme weather, with models suggesting Canada is warming at approximately double the global rate.

B.C. has already seen a few mini-heatwaves this year, with temperatures hitting in the 30s at times over the past few months. Though pockets of the province have seen some cooler temperatures and wet weather as of late, ECCC’s forecast suggests conditions will soon change.

Busy wildfire season likely 

As wildfires continue to rage in much of the country, including B.C., ECCC’s forecast suggests dry weather will likely keep already-active wildfire season going.

“Warmer-than-normal temperatures typically result in accelerated drying conditions and increase the risk of ignition from both lightning and humans in starting and sustaining wildland fires. Until significant and prolonged precipitation is observed, fuels will continue to dry, resulting in deep burning and challenging firefighting conditions,” the BC Wildfire Service says.

“The number of new wildfire starts will increase as we move through June and into July and August, the two months that typically see the most lightning activity. Overall, an early and more active start to the core wildfire season is anticipated.”

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