‘Early season heat event’ triggers special weather statement for Lower Mainland

A special weather statement has been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as hot weather is moving into the Lower Mainland until early next week.

“A ridge of high pressure is bringing high temperatures to the region. Daytime highs are expected to be in the high 20’s to low 30’s with overnight lows in the low to mid teens. High temperatures will persist into early next week,” ECCC said in its statement early Friday morning.

The statement covers Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the southwestern interior of B.C., the western part of the Kootenay District, and the North Thompson and 100 Mile House.

ECCC says an “early season heat event” can be significant because people aren’t yet acclimatized to higher temperatures.

1130 NewsRadio Meteorologist Michael Kuss says temperatures will climb throughout the weekend.

“It will be two or three degrees warmer than it was on Friday through Saturday afternoon away from the shoreline, still a westerly breeze, giving a bit of a break to the temperatures near the water at about 20 or 21 degrees,” he said.

“The peak of the heat is still coming on Sunday, where inland parts of Metro Vancouver and out in the valley will be as warm as 30 degrees.”

Kuss adds that if this weather event happened later this month or in July, we most likely wouldn’t see a special weather statement issued.

“But it’s because of the timing. It’s early in the season, temperatures climbing to near 30 degrees Sunday, Monday, especially, but potentially even Saturday, and stretching into Tuesday,” Kuss explained.

“The temperatures are five to 10 degrees warmer than normal for daytime highs and overnight lows. We won’t see a break in this heat,” Kuss added.

Kuss explains that while the daytime highs will be hot, it’s the overnights that will be particularly uncomfortable.

“[The warmer than normal temperatures] are not just for the daytime highs, but also for the overnight lows. And that’s the bigger concern, it just doesn’t cool off through the evenings and overnights across the Lower Mainland. It’s going to be no colder than 15 or 16 degrees in the mornings on the weekend and into early next week,” he explained.

ECCC is urging people to try to keep their homes cool by proactively closing curtains and blinds to keep the sun out.

“Watch for the effects of heat illness: heavy sweating, rash, cramps, fainting, high body temperature, and the worsening of some health conditions,” ECCC said in its statement.

“Fans alone cannot effectively lower core body temperature, especially for older adults. Use fans to pull in cooler air from outdoors, but if you or someone you care for is experiencing symptoms of heat illness, find a cooler space.”

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