Vancouver Island is in for what’s likely the first heat wave of the season, with temperatures above 30 C expected in some areas over the weekend.
Starting Friday, the forecast is calling for a stretch of sunny and dry weather for much of southern B.C.
The thermometer is expected to climb to a daytime high of 29 C in Greater Victoria over the weekend and into next week, according to Environment Canada. The average high for this time of year is about 21 C.
It will be even warmer elsewhere on the Island, with a high of 31 C forecast for Nanaimo and Campbell River, and 36 C for Port Alberni.
Similar temperatures are expected on the Lower Mainland, while those in the Interior could get into the high 30s. On Saturday, for example, Osoyoos is forecast to hit a high of 38 C.
Armel Castellan, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said the coming heat wave poses a moderate risk, as opposed to the high risk B.C. experienced with the 2021 heat dome.
“So there will be vulnerable people who are going to be affected,” Castellan said. “But just to be super clear, this is not the same as what we saw in 2021, where the heat-warning thresholds were met and then surpassed by an enormous margin.
“Instead we will see low 30s for the Fraser Valley and high 30s for the Okanagan, South Thompson, Kamloops, Lytton.”
He added that it’s still considered early in the season for this type of heat, which will be of concern to the B.C. Wildfire Service because of the long stretch of hot and dry weather.
Castellan said it’s a good time to check on friends and family who are vulnerable to the heat and make sure they have access to somewhere cool.
The Weather Network says a big ridge of high pressure will build across B.C. this weekend, sending temperatures into the 30s, but feeling like 40 C in some areas with humidity.
Temperatures should return to seasonal levels for much of B.C. later next week, according to the network.
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