Things are about to heat up on Vancouver Island — again.
Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures of nearly 30 degrees for Greater Victoria this Wednesday and Thursday and remaining in the mid-20s for the rest of the week.
Up-Island, it will get even hotter, with Nanaimo expected to see 30-degree weather on Tuesday and Wednesday, with an expected high of 29 Thursday.
In Port Alberni, typically Vancouver Island’s hot spot, temperatures will push into the mid-30s Wednesday and Thursday, according to Environment Canada.
The surge of summer weather could prompt another round of heat warnings on the mid and central Island, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon, who says we’ve seen more days of 30+ degree weather this summer than is usual for the region.
“Normally, say Victoria International Airport, on average has two days above 30 degrees over the year,” Sekhon told CHEK News. “This year we’ve already had four.”
In Nanaimo, which usually sees about seven days over 30 degrees, has had 11 so far this year, he added.
“Certainly more hot days than we’re normally used to seeing, we’ve certainly broken records, and some of those highest minimum temperatures are the highest overnight lows that we’ve seen.”
Sekhon said mid-range models suggest that warm weather will continue into late August and early September, and no rain is in the forecast — compounding one of the drier Augusts Vancouver Island has seen.
Greater Victoria, for instance, usually receives an average of 24 millimetres of precipitation in August. So far this month, only one millimetre of rain has been recorded.
“We usually see some showers, but there’s no likelihood of that scenario. Models are pretty dry right through the next seven to 10 days,” Sekhon said.
He reminded Vancouver Islanders to take precautions, especially when heat warnings are issued, to stay cool and hydrated. Elderly people, young children, people who are pregnant and outdoor workers are most at risk of heat-related illness, he added.
B.C. has seen a couple of heat waves already this summer, and one stretch of hot weather between late July and early August resulted in the deaths of 16 people in the province, according to a preliminary report by the BC Coroners Service.
CHEK News
