Sunny skies and warm weather usually make for a great long weekend, but Environment Canada and Vancouver Coastal Health say people need to be prepared for extreme conditions over the next few days.
According to a special weather statement issued by Environment Canada on Wednesday, “a massive ridge of high pressure will continue to build over southern B.C. through Thursday, leading to several days of hot weather.”
So far, though, the Sunshine Coast hasn’t set any new temperature records. The highest temperature recorded on Aug. 4 at the Sechelt Airport was 31.4 C in 2012. The record temperatures for the 5th and 6th are 30.6 (2012) and 30 (2008).
Meteorologist Cindy Yu said the smoke from wildfires in the Interior could mean the Sunshine Coast doesn’t get the highs forecasters are predicting because the smoke has a cooling effect similar to natural cloud.
She also said it’s hard to predict how long the smoke will stay. “Under a ridge of high pressure we tend to get outflow winds on the south coast, and that’s really not changing until late Saturday into Sunday.”
The fire danger rating has now reached extreme for much of the Sunshine Coast, with the exception of the area north of Halfmoon Bay where it remains at high. A complete campfire and open burning ban is in effect.
As a result of the extended dry spell, the Sunshine Coast Regional District, except the Pender Harbour systems, and the Town of Gibsons are under Stage 2 water use restrictions.
According to Vancouver Coastal Health, heat-related illness can happen to anyone, but the most vulnerable include young children, the elderly who are housebound in homes without air conditioning, people working or exercising in the heat, and those with chronic heart and lung conditions, mental illness, living alone without air conditioning and the homeless.
Officials with the health authority also suggest that if you are taking medication, particularly for mental illness, heart disease or Alzheimer’s disease, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist whether the medication can increase the risk of heat-related complications.
Their advice is simple: keep cool, stay hydrated, check on friends, family and neighbours who may be vulnerable, and never leave children or pets alone in a parked car. Find out more at vch.ca.
