Hot weather to settle over B.C. bringing 30°C+ temps

After a cool and wet June, the weather is about to heat up for much of B.C., including the South Coast.

Just in time for people to head away on their summer vacations, a spell of hot weather is coming, sending temperatures into the 30°s by the end of the week.

CityNews Meteorologist Michael Kuss explains the peak of the heat will come this coming weekend, where the daily highs will top 30°C for most of the Lower Mainland.

“With some humidity, it could feel close to 35,” Kuss shared. “Even with an afternoon sea breeze, it will still be up near 27 right by the water.”

“This is a long dry stretch, there’s no rain in the forecast for at least the next 10 days.”

Kuss says for folks that are heading out of the Lower Mainland, you’ll be seeing even warmer temperatures this week.

“Highs hit 30 degrees in the Okanagan Thursday, mid-30s Saturday with no sign of significant cooling through at least the end of next week,” he explained.

“[It’ll be] dry and hot in Prince George and the Central Interior as well. Heat comes a little later but will last well into next week. Highs climbing to 30 on Sunday and as hot as 35 by early next week.”

Environment Canada says the streak of heat comes after a relatively normal spring.

“We flipped the switch and we’re not only in full summer mode, we’re in above summer mode,” said meteorologist Ken Dosanjh.

“Last year was very different. We had a really early start for summer where in 2023, May as well as June was really dry and warm so that really kind of started our susceptibilities in terms of drought and wildfire.”

Environment Canada says it’s not clear how long this stretch of hot weather will last and warns that heat warnings may be possible.

“Overnight temperatures, they are close to heat warning criteria, so that situation is being closely monitored on whether we need to upgrade from a special weather statement to a heat warning,” Dosanjh said.

With files from Monika Gul.

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