Heat wave

Wildfire smoke fills the air and obstructs the view of the mountains as people continue to take part in outdoor activities in Sicamous B.C., Thursday, July 29, 2021. The Health Ministry is urging those in areas where heat and smoky skies warnings have been posted to take steps to keep cool and stay safe as many parts of the province continue to experience poor air quality due to wildfires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

B.C. officials urge caution as third summer heat wave blankets parts of the province

Ridge of high pressure is expected to reach maximum strength on Thursday and Friday

Wildfire smoke fills the air and obstructs the view of the mountains as people continue to take part in outdoor activities in Sicamous B.C., Thursday, July 29, 2021. The Health Ministry is urging those in areas where heat and smoky skies warnings have been posted to take steps to keep cool and stay safe as many parts of the province continue to experience poor air quality due to wildfires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
(Luke Rushton photo)

UPDATE: Heat warning issued for southern B.C. coast, temperatures expected to hit 38 C

Another heatwave is expected to hit southern B.C., with temperatures nearing 40 degrees

  • Aug 10, 2021
(Luke Rushton photo)
FILE- In this Saturday, June 26, 2021 file photo a paramedic with Falck Northwest ambulances treats a man experiencing heat exposure during a heat wave, in Salem, Ore. Consecutive days of temperatures as high as 116 F in Portland, Ore., made a folly of years of planning for more anticipated emergencies such as earthquakes and snowstorms and it was only as the disaster unfolded that authorities got a sense of how devastating it would ultimately be. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard,File)

Northwest heat wave targeted vulnerable, tested climate prep

Crisis was a wake-up call for the normally temperate Pacific Northwest

FILE- In this Saturday, June 26, 2021 file photo a paramedic with Falck Northwest ambulances treats a man experiencing heat exposure during a heat wave, in Salem, Ore. Consecutive days of temperatures as high as 116 F in Portland, Ore., made a folly of years of planning for more anticipated emergencies such as earthquakes and snowstorms and it was only as the disaster unfolded that authorities got a sense of how devastating it would ultimately be. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard,File)
Sahtlam Tree Farm owner Robert Russell is photographed in front of his cabin, which he built in the early 70’s, on his 40 acre property in the Cowichan Valley area of Duncan, B.C., on Saturday, July 31, 2021. The recent heat dome and drought have taken a toll on his business of growing trees for the busy Christmas season. Robert farms over 40,000 fir trees including the douglas, grand and noble fir trees. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. Christmas tree growers say intense heat singes prized trees, kills seedlings

An expert says said the heat dome could have immediate and long-term impacts for Christmas tree growers

Sahtlam Tree Farm owner Robert Russell is photographed in front of his cabin, which he built in the early 70’s, on his 40 acre property in the Cowichan Valley area of Duncan, B.C., on Saturday, July 31, 2021. The recent heat dome and drought have taken a toll on his business of growing trees for the busy Christmas season. Robert farms over 40,000 fir trees including the douglas, grand and noble fir trees. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A helicopter carrying a bucket flies past a property at Barnes Lake while battling the Tremont Creek wildfire near Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Heat warning in effect for B.C. as firefighters battle wildfires in province

There are 60 evacuation orders affecting 3,120 properties, an increase of 62

A helicopter carrying a bucket flies past a property at Barnes Lake while battling the Tremont Creek wildfire near Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Wildfire smoke fills the air and obstructs the view of the mountains as people keep cool in Sicamous B.C., on Thursday July 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Doctors, lawyers want B.C. to track injuries after record heat wave

‘I saw more heat-related illness than I had ever seen in my career’

Wildfire smoke fills the air and obstructs the view of the mountains as people keep cool in Sicamous B.C., on Thursday July 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
A plume of smoke rise from a forest fire burning northeast of the city in Prince Albert, Sask., Monday, May 17, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Kayle Neis)

Western Canada desperately needs rain but it’s not in the forecast: climatologist

300 wildfires were burning across British Columbia Monday, evacuation orders were issued for several regions

A plume of smoke rise from a forest fire burning northeast of the city in Prince Albert, Sask., Monday, May 17, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Kayle Neis)
The East Toe is a outcropping of rock in the Fraser River at the Big Bar Landslide site, northwest of Kamloops that has to be removed to restore fish passage. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Salmon and other sea life affected by recent heat waves, experts say

Surface waters are warmer than they have been historically

The East Toe is a outcropping of rock in the Fraser River at the Big Bar Landslide site, northwest of Kamloops that has to be removed to restore fish passage. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
A University of Toronto study has found the environmental DNA of pathogens harmful to fish are 2.7 times more likely to be detected near active salmon farms versus inactive sites. (Kenny Regan photo)

Salmon and other sea life affected by recent heat waves, experts say

A sweltering heat wave baked much of Western Canada the last week of June

A University of Toronto study has found the environmental DNA of pathogens harmful to fish are 2.7 times more likely to be detected near active salmon farms versus inactive sites. (Kenny Regan photo)
Temperatures soared into the 40s this summer as the province of B.C., Canada baked in a ‘heat dome.’ (Caitlin Clow/Vernon Morning Star)

Extreme heat waves are putting lakes and rivers in hot water this summer

Many people may perceive lakes and rivers to be refuges from unprecedented heat, but freshwater systems are no less sensitive

  • Jul 16, 2021
Temperatures soared into the 40s this summer as the province of B.C., Canada baked in a ‘heat dome.’ (Caitlin Clow/Vernon Morning Star)
Sparks Lake wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)

‘Heat is just relentless’: Meteorologist warns of hot, dry summer ahead for B.C.

Environment Canada isn’t expecting any significant rain until the second half of August

Sparks Lake wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)
Sarah De Francesco, left, Albert Huynh, right, and Leanne Opuyes, back left, cool off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Climate change made B.C., Alberta heat wave 150 times more likely, study concludes

‘Everybody’s really worried about the implications of this event, nobody saw this coming’

Sarah De Francesco, left, Albert Huynh, right, and Leanne Opuyes, back left, cool off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vanderhoof’s pool updated their capacity to 220 people due to change in COVID-19 restrictions. (Ema Peter photo)

Vanderhoof Aquatic Centre struggles to keep cool in early summer heat

It was more than just air conditioners at Vanderhoof homes that could…

Vanderhoof’s pool updated their capacity to 220 people due to change in COVID-19 restrictions. (Ema Peter photo)
Extreme heat played a factor in an unprecedented amount of B.C. deaths this week, says chief coroner Lisa Lapointe.(Black Press Media files)

B.C. deaths triple over the past week, to 719, as a result of heat wave

Many of the deaths were among older individuals living alone in private residences

Extreme heat played a factor in an unprecedented amount of B.C. deaths this week, says chief coroner Lisa Lapointe.(Black Press Media files)
Crows could be seen running through water spray from a lawn sprinkler in downtown Vanderhoof during a heat wave in June. The ‘dangerous long duration heat wave’ continued into the beginning of July and has resulted in wildfires and hundreds of deaths across B.C. (Linda Scott photo)

Crows caught running through lawn sprinklers in Vanderhoof

Heat warning remains in effect, says Environment Canada

Crows could be seen running through water spray from a lawn sprinkler in downtown Vanderhoof during a heat wave in June. The ‘dangerous long duration heat wave’ continued into the beginning of July and has resulted in wildfires and hundreds of deaths across B.C. (Linda Scott photo)
People try to beat the heat at a beach on June 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Persistent pressure from B.C. heat wave to affect rest of summer: meteorologist

Seasonal modelling is predicting higher-than-normal temperatures to persist through August and September

People try to beat the heat at a beach on June 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
FILE – A healthcare worker watches as a B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a patient into an ambulance outside the emergency department at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., on Sunday, April 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Paramedics call situation ‘unbearable’ as B.C. heat wave death count hits 486

Union says low pay has led to staff shortages that saw ambulances sitting empty

FILE – A healthcare worker watches as a B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a patient into an ambulance outside the emergency department at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., on Sunday, April 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A wildfire west of Nazko First Nation was discovered Wednesday, June 30. (Nazko First Nation Facebook photo)

UPDATE: Nazko First Nation says wildfire contained by water bombers, crews will monitor overnight

A 20-unit crew from the Cariboo Fire Centre is on the way

A wildfire west of Nazko First Nation was discovered Wednesday, June 30. (Nazko First Nation Facebook photo)
Leanne Opuyes uses a spray bottle to mist her face while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Western heat shifts in some areas of B.C., territories, but still blazing elsewhere

Relief is still days away for eastern B.C. and the Prairies

Leanne Opuyes uses a spray bottle to mist her face while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Dozens of officers have been redeployed in Vancouver to respond to those in medical distress during the heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Sudden death toll rises to 98 in Vancouver amid scorching heat wave

Two-thirds of the deaths occurred to people 70 years or older, according to Vancouver Police

Dozens of officers have been redeployed in Vancouver to respond to those in medical distress during the heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward