Smoke and heat blanket B.C. as late-summer heat records fall

Smoke and high temperatures are settling over large parts of British Columbia, just a week after the last record-breaking heat wave.

Environment Canada has issued late-season heat warnings for B.C.’s inland north and central coasts, the Fraser Canyon, North and South Thompson, and Boundary regions.

Daytime highs are expected to climb into the mid-30s in some parts of the province. 

The agency said the high temperatures are expected to last through Thursday in southern B.C. and could last through Friday in areas of the inland north and central coasts, including Terrace, Kitamat and Bella Coola. 

More than a dozen B.C. communities broke high temperature records on Labour Day, including some records that were close to a century old. Clearwater in the North Thompson area reached 35.6 degrees Celsius on Monday, surpassing a record of 33.3 degrees set in 1928. Lillooet saw the highest temperature of the day at a scorching 38.8, breaking a 2022 record by more than three degrees.

There’s been little relief from the heat for some B.C. communities. The latest warning comes about a week after the last heat wave saw the mercury climb into the high 30s and beyond in some areas. The village of Lytton set a new record high temperature for Canada this year, with a scorching 41.3 degrees.

The B.C. Wildfire Service said Tuesday there were more than 6,000 lightning strikes across the province over the previous five days, though lightning activity has tapered off over the first two days September. 

It said winds are expected to remain light over the coming days, helping to minimize fire spread despite the heat wave. 

There were close to 160 wildfires in the province as of Tuesday afternoon, including 67 classified as out of control. 

Meanwhile, Environment Canada has also issued a special air quality statement covering a large swathe of central and northeastern B.C. It said smokey conditions are expected to persist over the next one to two days. 

The B.C. Wildfire Service said smoke is expected to increase with the thickest density over Prince George and Williams Lake.

Wildfire smoke can cause inflammation and symptoms like eye irritation and sore throat, according to the B.C. Lung Association. It notes symptoms can be worse for those with pre-existing health conditions. 

The association recommends avoiding outdoor activities during smoky conditions. It says people can mitigate the effects of smoke by closing windows and using good-quality air purifiers at home, or going to public areas that have cooler, filtered air, like libraries and shopping malls.