Heat records broken across B.C. as scorching temperatures persist

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Heat records were melted across the Lower Mainland, South Coast, and Vancouver Island on Thursday, and the region is gearing up for another day in the oven.

White Rock and Squamish overtook their 1992 records by seven degrees, hitting 37°C and 40.2°C respectively. Abbotsford pushed the record to 39.4°C, slightly more than five degrees hotter than 1990. Meanwhile Pitt Meadows inched the record up by just slightly more than one degree to 36.6°C.

Agassiz, Comox, Pemberton, and Port Alberni also saw records fall in the sweltering heat.

No record was broken at YVR, but with Extreme Heat Alerts issued for the entire Lower Mainland, there may be a chance of rising above the 27.6°C high today.

“Saturday much the same with 31°C,” NEWS 1130 Meteorologist Michael Kuss said. “Sunday’s a little cooler, but still super humid, with some cloud cover, and a high of 27°C.”

He adds, temperatures won’t get much cooler overnight, which could become a problem for some people if their bodies aren’t able to cool down while they try to sleep.

Fraser Heath and Vancouver Coastal Health are so concerned about the soaring temperatures they’ve issued a joint Extreme Heat Alert.

An alert of this kind is issued when the two-day average of high temperatures is predicted to reach 36°C or higher at the Abbotsford Airport and/or is predicted to reach 31°C or higher at YVR. It frees up more resources for health authorities, municipalities as well as organizations that help out in emergency situations.

For example, the City of Vancouver opened up a cooling centre overnight at The Gathering Place on Helmcken Street near Granville.

Anyone worried about crowding at cooling centres, or who is experiencing difficulty breathing while wearing a mask is being advised that the heat is currently more of a health risk than COVID-19.

A full list of cooling centres can be found here.

Both Fraser Heath and Vancouver Coastal fear people will die because of the heat, so they’re asking you to check in people who may be more vulnerable to extreme temperatures.

The warnings come after hundreds of people died suddenly during the heatwave in late June, with the province’s chief coroner saying most of those deaths were heat-related. Those who died were disproportionately seniors who lived alone in apartments.

In addition to the sweltering temperatures, the health authorities are warning smoke from wildfires makes it even more critical to “take steps to protect both yourself and those who are vulnerable in our communities.” Air quality advisories are in effect for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

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According to the province, the air quality is in the eastern Fraser Valley is a “10” because the smoke is so bad. It’s more like a “6” in Langley, Surrey, and New Westminster, a “4” in Richmond, and Delta, a “3” in the Tri-Cities, Maple Ridge, and Abbotsford, and a “2” in Vancouver, Burnaby, and the North Shore.

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