Heat wave

Stacks of air conditioners, fans and other cooling equipment line the entrance of McLendon Hardware in Renton, Wash., on Sunday, July 24, 2022. British Columbia is preparing for its first heat wave of the year starting Friday, May 12 to Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Kori Suzuki/The Seattle Times via AP)

B.C. prepares for 1st heat wave of season; increase in wildfire, flood risks

Province says its in a ‘much better place’ to deal with extreme weather after 2021 heat dome

Stacks of air conditioners, fans and other cooling equipment line the entrance of McLendon Hardware in Renton, Wash., on Sunday, July 24, 2022. British Columbia is preparing for its first heat wave of the year starting Friday, May 12 to Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Kori Suzuki/The Seattle Times via AP)
FILE - B.C. could be in for some “seasonally unusual” temperatures this weekend, but officials aren’t expecting a heat dome like what was experienced in 2021. A boy and girl dunk their heads in a water fountain during a heat wave in Montreal, Monday, July 2, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

B.C. anticipating elevated temperatures, but not a heat dome

BC Wildfire Service expects record temperatures to be broken; reminds people to be safe with fire

FILE - B.C. could be in for some “seasonally unusual” temperatures this weekend, but officials aren’t expecting a heat dome like what was experienced in 2021. A boy and girl dunk their heads in a water fountain during a heat wave in Montreal, Monday, July 2, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
A man sunbathes on a hot spring day in Madrid, Spain, on April 18, 2023. Drought-stricken Spain says last month was the hottest and driest April since records began in 1961. The State Meteorological Agency, said Monday May 8, 2023 the average daily temperature in April was 14.9 degrees Celsius (58.8 Fahrenheit), that is 3 degrees Celsius above the average. (AP Photo/Paul White, File)

Spain records hottest and driest April on record

3 years of scant rainfall and high temperatures put the country officially into long-term drought

A man sunbathes on a hot spring day in Madrid, Spain, on April 18, 2023. Drought-stricken Spain says last month was the hottest and driest April since records began in 1961. The State Meteorological Agency, said Monday May 8, 2023 the average daily temperature in April was 14.9 degrees Celsius (58.8 Fahrenheit), that is 3 degrees Celsius above the average. (AP Photo/Paul White, File)
A study examining B.C.’s 2021 heat dome found people with mental health disorders were the most at risk of dying. (Black Press Media file photo)

Who’s most at risk during extreme heat?

619 people died during B.C.’s 2021 heat dome and those with mental health disorders suffered the most

  • Apr 19, 2023
A study examining B.C.’s 2021 heat dome found people with mental health disorders were the most at risk of dying. (Black Press Media file photo)
B.C. recorded 740 excess deaths during the heat dome heatwave that blanketed much of the Pacific Northwest at the end June 2021. New research from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control shows people with schizophrenia, in particular, had an increased risk of death during that period. (File photo)

People with schizophrenia had a higher risk of death during B.C.’s 2021 heat dome: study

Substance use, chronic kidney disease also increased people’s chances of dying, BCCDC finds

B.C. recorded 740 excess deaths during the heat dome heatwave that blanketed much of the Pacific Northwest at the end June 2021. New research from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control shows people with schizophrenia, in particular, had an increased risk of death during that period. (File photo)
Environment Canada and local medical health officers are warning the heatwave can put anyone in danger, and are advising the public to take precautions. (Shutterstock)

Environment Canada: Heatwave to bring inland temperatures up to 35 C today

Hottest time of the day will be late afternoon to early evening

Environment Canada and local medical health officers are warning the heatwave can put anyone in danger, and are advising the public to take precautions. (Shutterstock)
Paramedics in B.C. responded to about 210 heat-related patient events during the July 2022 heat wave. According to the BC Coroners Service, 16 people died. (APBC image)

16 deaths recorded during B.C.’s July heat wave

Heat-related death data first since review into 2021 heat dome was issued

Paramedics in B.C. responded to about 210 heat-related patient events during the July 2022 heat wave. According to the BC Coroners Service, 16 people died. (APBC image)
July 26, Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for 38 regions in the province. (Image: Environment Canada).

Guide for health-checks during extreme heat released by B.C. officials

As B.C. gets out of its first heat wave of the summer, new guide gives insight to health checks

July 26, Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for 38 regions in the province. (Image: Environment Canada).
A boy and girl dunk their heads in a water fountain during a heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

New single-day temperature records set across B.C. amid heat wave

Lytton saw the highest temperature at 42 C

A boy and girl dunk their heads in a water fountain during a heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna’s vulnerable want to shelter from heat wave, but bylaw requires they move

Bylaw requires residents of homeless encampment to pack-up and leave each morning

Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
(Pixaby photo)

B.C.’s seniors advocate urges seniors and caregivers to prepare for rising temperatures

Dual focus during high temperatures is to keep the room cool and to keep the body cool

(Pixaby photo)
PETSITE Portable Air Conditioner Windowless

6 products to keep you cool in the coming heat wave

That’s right, British Columbia is expected to hit 40°C next week so…

  • Jul 22, 2022
PETSITE Portable Air Conditioner Windowless
A man cools off his dog at a fountain as temperatures go above 30 C on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 in Montreal. Heat warnings remain in place throughout Eastern Canada, with Environment Canada warning of humidex levels in the mid to high 30s or even 40 C heading into the weekend. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Environment Canada warning of humidex levels in the mid to high 30s in the east

B.C. says potential heat warnings could begin as early as Saturday and continue into next week

A man cools off his dog at a fountain as temperatures go above 30 C on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 in Montreal. Heat warnings remain in place throughout Eastern Canada, with Environment Canada warning of humidex levels in the mid to high 30s or even 40 C heading into the weekend. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Inuvik, Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson, warning temperatures could rise to 32 degrees today. (Photo courtesy of Pixabay) (Courtesy of Pixabay)

British Columbians told to prepare as temperatures set to ramp up this weekend

Province issues heat-safety tips ahead of potential heat waves

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Inuvik, Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson, warning temperatures could rise to 32 degrees today. (Photo courtesy of Pixabay) (Courtesy of Pixabay)
A woman uses an umbrella to shade herself from the sun in Greenwich Park, south east London, Monday July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)

Millions swelter as UK endures its 1st extreme heat warning

Highest temperature ever recorded in Britain is 38.7 C, temperatures may reach 40 C this week

A woman uses an umbrella to shade herself from the sun in Greenwich Park, south east London, Monday July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)
FILE- B.C. likely would have set several temperature records over the June 25/26 weekend, if it wasn’t for the unprecedented ones reached the year before during 2021’s heat dome, according to Environment Canada. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)

B.C.’s weekend heat wave may have set records, if it wasn’t for the 2021 heat dome

Daytime highs were well above average June 25 and 26, but nowhere near those seen last year

FILE- B.C. likely would have set several temperature records over the June 25/26 weekend, if it wasn’t for the unprecedented ones reached the year before during 2021’s heat dome, according to Environment Canada. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)
Burned trees are seen in the aftermath of the July 2021 White Rock Lake wildfire, in this aerial view southeast of Kamloops, British Columbia, on Thursday, August 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. scientists see recovery but fear more heat domes could change ecosystems forever

Cold-water marine species could be replaced by warm-water organisms, triggering cascading effects

Burned trees are seen in the aftermath of the July 2021 White Rock Lake wildfire, in this aerial view southeast of Kamloops, British Columbia, on Thursday, August 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man plays a guitar in the shade at Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 28, 2021, during the heat dome event that set temperature records across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Policy revamp might save lives in next heat dome, but so could community, say B.C. experts

Checking in on neighbours, vulnerable could save lives, experts say

A man plays a guitar in the shade at Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 28, 2021, during the heat dome event that set temperature records across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
British Columbia's provincial flag flies in Ottawa on Friday July 3, 2020. Environment Canada says the first hot spell of the year is about to settle over much of British Columbia, bringing temperatures in the low to mid-30s until at least early next week.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Rain, impending heat wave prompt warning and raise flood potential in B.C.

Thunderstorms, rain, melting snow have the potential to push those waterways above flood stage

British Columbia's provincial flag flies in Ottawa on Friday July 3, 2020. Environment Canada says the first hot spell of the year is about to settle over much of British Columbia, bringing temperatures in the low to mid-30s until at least early next week.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Many cities across B.C. recorded the hottest days of their histories during the ‘heat dome’ heatwave that blanketed much of the Pacific Northwest at the end June, 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. launches heat alert system following 2021’s deadly heat dome

System to have 2 levels: warning and extreme heat emergencies

Many cities across B.C. recorded the hottest days of their histories during the ‘heat dome’ heatwave that blanketed much of the Pacific Northwest at the end June, 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)