SURREY – Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for August 13 to 17 for the following areas within the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions:
- Fraser Canyon – south including Lytton
- Fraser Valley
- Howe Sound
- Metro Vancouver
- Sunshine Coast
A period of hot and dry weather will start as a strong ridge of high pressure brings rising temperatures to the South Coast and Southern Interior this weekend and into next week. Forecasts are for daytime high coastal temperatures reaching the high 20s or low 30s and inland temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s. Well above seasonal daytime temperatures combined with elevated overnight temperatures will mean little relief from the heat. Temperatures within the region may vary significantly.
Find further details here: Latest Heat Warning: Weather Alert. This heat event is not forecast to meet criteria for an Extreme Heat Emergency.
Negative health effects occur primarily in people at high risk for heat-related illness. These may include:
# seniors aged 65 years or older
- people who live alone
- people with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory disease
- people with mental illness such as schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety
- people with substance use disorders
- people who are marginally housed
- people who are pregnant
- infants and young children
- people with limited mobility or other disabilities
Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health encourage the public to check on people with known vulnerabilities to heat-related illness.
Indoor temperatures are the most important determinant of health outcomes. Once a susceptible individual is exposed to sustained high temperatures, it can take many hours for their bodies to cool and for physiological strain to decrease.
The BC Centre of Disease Control provides a broad range of heat-related guidance on its website, including information on the different types of heat alerts, how to prepare for hot temperatures, symptoms of heat-related illnesses, those most at risk during hot weather and ways to stay cool.
Visit fraserhealth.ca/heatsafety and vch.ca/heat for more information about the health impacts of heat, and tips and resources to help stay safe and cool.
