B.C. is in a 鈥渕uch better place鈥� to prepare for extreme heat conditions after the deadly 2021 heat dome 鈥� but more can still be done 鈥� says a scientific director with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

While this weekend isn鈥檛 forecasted to be a heat dome, special weather statements have been issued for most of the province for 鈥渦nseasonably hot weather,鈥� beginning Friday (May 12) and extending to Tuesday in coastal regions and Wednesday in the Interior.

鈥淎s someone who has been studying the impacts of extreme heat in British Columbia for many years now, we are in a much better place than we were in the summer of 2021,鈥� explained Sarah Henderson, with the BCCDC鈥檚 environmental health services.

She pointed to the province鈥檚 alert system and the extreme heat preparedness guide.

鈥淎re we exactly where I would like us to be and where others in the province would like us to be? No, but we are pushing quickly in that direction.鈥�

Henderson acknowledged preparation, planning and policy takes time, but the province is 鈥渨orking to get to an even better place.鈥�

Asked what else the province and residents should be doing to stay safe, Henderson said keeping indoors where it is cool is best.

Meanwhile, she said there鈥檚 lots of work to do 鈥渘ow and into the future鈥� to reduce that risk of indoor overheating.

Daytime temperatures are expected to reach 10 C to 15 C higher than the seasonal average, and Environment Canada鈥檚 warning preparedness meteorologist Armel Castellan said some regions could see temperatures 18 C above seasonal maximums.

However, Castellan said it won鈥檛 be considered a heat dome like in June 2021.

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Heat domes are characterized by persistent high pressure that can trap heat around an area for long periods of time, and Castellan noted that from a meteorological perspective, early-to-mid-May nights are still longer, allowing overnight temperatures to 鈥渞ecover鈥� and cool.

鈥淚t鈥檚 still going to be very warm.鈥�

The heat is expected to accelerate the snowmelt at higher elevations, leading to an increased risk of flooding. The River Forecast Centre is monitoring weather patterns and conditions.

Some key areas of concern include Fraser River from Prince George through the Fraser Canyon, Cariboo Mountains, North Thompson, South Thompson, Shuswap, Similkameen, Kootenay and Skeena regions.

There are currently 45 active fires burning in the province, as of Thursday. Three of those are wildfires of note in the Prince George area.

BC Wildfire Service says its paying 鈥減articular attention鈥� to the northeastern region. There have been 151 wildfires sparked since April 1, which is being considered normal when compared to the 20-year average.

Neal McLoughlin, service superintendent of predictive services, said that as B.C. experiences hotter conditions in the coming days, people can maybe expect more prohibitions and bans put in place.

鈥淚t鈥檚 realizing any activity could cause a fire.鈥�

Heat alert system ready to be used

The provincial government launched the BC Heat Alert and Response System in June 2022. Health Minister Adrian Dix told reporters Thursday that B.C. may see 鈥渓ess urgent heat alerts鈥� issued in some communities this weekend.

The province will be looking to use three types of warnings this season, if required: a special weather statement, a heat warning or extreme heat emergency.

Officials expect the latter two alerts won鈥檛 be activated this weekend.

When it comes to responding to medical emergencies caused by heat, Dix noted that the province has added 77 ground ambulances to dispatch teams in B.C. and provincial officials are working with municipalities to help people cool down.

Dix urged British Colombians to develop a plan for themselves and others.

鈥淲e are living in an age of climate change and we are going to see more extreme weather.鈥�

lauren.collins@blackpress.ca
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