We’re expected to see unseasonably hot weather coming up across British Columbia starting tomorrow (Friday, May 12, 2023).
It is reported that the daytime highs across the province will rise into the low-to-mid 30s around the central and southern Interior, while the northern regions of the province are expected to reach the high 20s, both of which are between 10 and 15 degrees above the seasonal average.
Some outlets are reporting forecasted temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees near the southern coast of BC. The upcoming weather is expected to break former record highs for seasonal records.
This sharp temperature spike is raising concerns about whether the hot weather could facilitate natural disasters, such as flooding and wildfires.
The snow buildup that accumulates during the winter is an important factor in preventing fires, and experts are worried that these temperatures will rapidly melt the snowpack and make the province more vulnerable to wildfires.
“Snow will melt very rapidly in this kind of heat and the fine fuels will dry rapidly around the province that aren’t covered in snow,” Global BC meteorologist Kristi Gordon said.
The 2021 heat dome contributed to wildfires across the province.
While the upcoming weather is unseasonably warm, B.C. Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma wants to assure people that we are not in danger of a resurgence heat dome, like the one that we experienced in June 2021 which killed hundreds of people across the province.
A heat dome is something that occurs when a high-pressure system traps heat near the surface of the earth, and then gets held in place for extended periods of time by a blocked jet stream. One of the defining characteristics of a heat dome, in contrast to a standard heatwave, is that the temperatures remain abnormally high throughout the evening.
It's going to be hot and it could break many records as potentially historic heat is expected. https://t.co/lSWPchhG8u
— Global BC (@GlobalBC) May 10, 2023
Despite the fact that we’re not expected to reach the same extreme temperatures as in the previous years, hot weather can still pose a risk to human health and welfare.
Particularly vulnerable individuals include elderly citizens and people with pre-existing medical complications. British Columbians are encouraged to reach out to and check up on their neighbours and members of their community during the hot weather.
Many houses in the lower mainland were built around the year 1970 and are not equipped with air conditioning equipment. With extreme temperatures becoming more and more common during the spring and summer months, you may want to consider purchasing air conditioning equipment, especially if you are a medically vulnerable individual.