This week's weather across Metro Vancouver may be stretching our summer sunshine to the max, but it has also prompted a warning about keeping our cool.
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Tuesday for the region, warning temps are going to be higher than usual for the next few days.
The alert is in effect for the following areas:
- Metro Vancouver - central including the City of Vancouver Burnaby and New Westminster
- Metro Vancouver - North Shore including West Vancouver and North Vancouver
- Metro Vancouver - northeast including Coquitlam and Maple Ridge
- Metro Vancouver - southeast including Surrey and Langley
- Metro Vancouver - southwest including Richmond and Delta
Daytime maximum temperatures are forecast to be 5 to 10 degrees above seasonal on Wednesday and Thursday, notes Environment Canada.
Currently, the weather agency is calling for Tuesday's high in Vancouver to hit 24°C, with Wednesday's and Thursday's temps inching up to 27°C. Overnight lows are also likely to be up to 5 degrees warmer than seasonal in some areas.
So what's going on with the heat? Blame America: "An upper ridge of high pressure will draw warm air northward from the United States this week," explains Environment Canada. In all seriousness, however, along the west coast of the U.S., the hot weather over the last few days has been perilous, with record-setting temps in Southern California and dangerous fire conditions.
Image: Environment CanadaTo help us get through this back-to-school week mini heatwave here in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, Environment Canada offers the following tips:
- Drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty and stay in a cool place.
- Reduce your heat risk. Schedule outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day.
- Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle.
Temps in Vancouver should get back down into the low 20s by Friday, with some clouds moving in just in time for the weekend, however so far there is no rain on the immediate horizon, according to Environment Canada.
