Temperature records fall amid heat warning

Temperature records fell across B.C. on Monday after a heat warning was issued for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

The hottest place in B.C. was Pemberton, which shattered a 41-year-old record, posting a high temperature of 37.4 C. The previous record was 35.6 C in 1977.

Five other Environment Canada weather stations saw new records set for June 18: Comox Airport’s high was 33.3, besting 1958’s 32.2; it was 36.1 in Kitimat, breaking the previous record high of 35 set in 2004; another 2004 record was broken, as Malahat, on the west coast of Saanich Inlet, hit 32.1 Monday, breaking the previous mark of 30.4; Nakusp recorded a high of 32.9, breaking a more-than-century-old record, 1912’s 31.7; and in Stewart, the high was 31.8, breaking a third 2004 record, 30.9.

Four communities came close to setting records: Dawson Creek hit 30 C, just 0.6 degrees shy of the previous record; Lillooet, where it was 37.1, just 0.1 degrees short; Port Alberni’s high of 34.6 was one degree short of the record; and Pitt Meadows, where the high was 32.8, 0.2 degrees short of the record.

The heat warning remains in effect for Tuesday, with temperatures in the low 30s, which is approximately 12 to 14 degrees above the average for the middle of June.

“The interior is still under the influence of a low,” Environment Canada’s Michel Gelinas said. The sun and the heat will stick around through Wednesday, he said, when things are expected to start cooling down.

Environment Canada and the Lower Mainland medical health officers expect an increase in health and safety risks from heat and are advising the public to take precautions.

Work Safe B.C. reminds employers and workers of the risks of heat stress, which, left untreated, can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Work Safe says it accepted 30 claims in 2017 for work-related injuries caused by heat exhaustion and heat stroke.