One year after the 2021 heat wave arrived in southern B.C., Environment Canada has issued a new heat warning.
The warning is an upgrade from an earlier special weather statement the federal agency issued a few days ago as hot weather is expected across the southern areas of the province over Sunday and Monday.
"The south coast is experiencing a stretch of much warmer than average temperatures through Monday. Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid to high 20's near the water and into the low 30's inland," reads the warning.
In the Fraser Valley temperatures around 34 C are expected.
In Vancouver a high of 25 C is forecast for Sunday (at the time of publishing it's 23 C) while on Monday it's expected to peak higher, at 27 C. THe further from the ocean people are, the warmer it's expected to feel.
"Watch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions," warns Environment Canada.
For parts of southern B.C., the rising temperatures could bring flooding issues, as the snowpack melts.
While Monday, June 27, will see the highest temperatures of the heat wave, and probably the year to date, things are expected to cool rapidly.
"Temperatures are expected to return to near-normal values by the middle of next week as a cooler, unsettled airmass pushes onshore," notes Environment Canada.
Tuesday and Wednesday are both expected to be cloudy with precipitation. Highs will be around 20 or 21 C. Thursday things should begin to warm up again, with sunny skies and a high of 22 C, followed by a similar day with a high of 24 C Friday, July 1.
A year ago a heat dome settled over southern B.C. setting record temperatures repeatedly. Lytton B.C. set a Canadian record of over 49 C on June 29. The town was destroyed by a wildfire in the following days.
- with files from Environment Canada
