Friday May 31, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC [Last update 10:30 am]
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
Heat is the hot topic today.
Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry took the lead today to provide some heat-related warnings to British Columbians today.
Her presentation along with Health Minister Adrian Dix and Armel Castellan, warning preparedness meteorologist, Environment and Climate Change Canada was delivered online from the government Cabinet Office in Vancouver.
Their presentation highlighted these weather forecasts and seasonal outlook updates:
- Probability of above-normal temperatures for June across B.C., expected after first week of June.
- A high probability of above-normal temperatures across the Interior.
Regional temperature outlook:
So far the weather has been relatively ‘normal’, said Armel Castellan, of ECCC.
The Summer Seasonal Temperature Outlook for June, July and August) shows coastal BC with a moderate probability of near-normal temperatures.
By comparison, the outlook for the Interior BC region is for above-normal temperatures.
Heat information resources:
There are two key resources for people to track heat conditions:
- Sign up for alerts using the WeatherCAN app.
- BC Heat Alert and Response System (BC HARS) is online
- Follow #BCStorm and #BCWx on X (formerly Twitter)
Preparing your home & lifestyle:
Plan ahead for staying cool.
- Know which rooms are cooler. Stay hydrated. Bathe with cool water.
- Never leave children or pets in a car during hot weather.
- Seek medical assistance immediately in instances of heat stress or heat stroke.
- Be prepared ahead of time, so that these steps are ready to act upon when heat periods occur.
Preparation helps people feel more empowered, and come through with better health outcomes, said Sarah Henderson, Scientific Director, Environmental Health at BC Centre for Disease Control.
Heat event upcoming in June:
Expect a health-related event either next weekend or mid-June, was the messaging from Castellan today. Advisories will be issued closer to when that happens, he added.
Expect a “dry pattern” for the month of June, he said.
Also be prepared for adapting to smoke from wildfires, and possible evacuation, said Castellan.
Warm weather going forward:
Not just summer: “There will be warmer weather for every season here on in”, said Castellan.
Prepared for summer threats this summer and every summer, said Henderson.
Advancing since the 2021 heat dome:
As of Spring 2024 there is a two-year precipitation deficit exists in most of BC.
Just three years ago there was a serious heat dome (during which over 600 people died in just five days, mostly in low-income housing in Vancouver and Victoria) that has led to this greater attention to heat-related health management.
Housing and air conditioning:
Older adults are impacted more by heat, said Health Minister Adrian Dix today. During the heat dome of June 2021 over 99% of the heat-deaths were among people over age 50.
People in BC Housing will have access to air conditioning. There is now additional funding ($6 million grant to BC Care Providers Association’s EquipCare BC program) for upgrading air cooling capacity in long-term care homes, said Dix today.
Minister Josie Osborne Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, announced more funding for air temperature management, and that as of 2024 the BC Building Code requires at least one room to be able to maintain a temperature under 26°C.
Indoor temperature at 26°C is risky and over 31°C is dangerous, said Henderson.
The Free Portable Air Conditioner (AC) program has been expanded to reach 19,000 more eligible households.
Heat warning signage & alerts:
Extreme heat warning information will be added to highway signs to inform people about expected extreme heat events, similar to wildfire, construction and road safety messaging.
This summer, the Province will begin to use overhead signs on highways to inform travellers and tourists about expected extreme-heat events in areas throughout the province.
The Province may also send out BC emergency alerts to mobile devices, radio and TV in the event of an extreme-heat emergency.
===== RELATED:
BC Coroners report on extreme heat deaths dedicated to the victims (June 7, 2022)
Meteorologist tells UBCM: heat dome was no surprise (September 15, 2021)