Heat wave continues though not as hot has originally forecast

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – While it will still be hot this weekend, it won’t be has hot as first forecast by Environment Canada.

The Special Weather Statement issued on Thursday, June 25, for the South and North Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and Okanagan warning of temperatures as high at 40 Celsius has been ended.

Meteorologists are still forecasting at heat wave with highs in the upper 30 C range this weekend. The mercury will rise to 39 C in Kamloops and around 38 C in the Okanagan Valley Saturday and Sunday. The hot spot will be Osoyoos where the desert air will produce highs near 40 C both days.

Normal highs for this time of year are around 26 C.

In the Okanagan, the heat will produce a chance of afternoon thundershowers on Saturday and Sunday.

On Monday and Tuesday, the weather will moderate throughout the region with a mix of sun and cloud, a chance of showers, but still hot, with highs in the low 30 to mid 30 C range.

The forecast for Canada Day on July 1 calls for sunshine and highs of about 34 C in Kamloops and 32 C in the Okanagan.

Temperatures will slowly climb higher through the rest of the week before hitting highs in the 38 C range on Friday.

Health officials are warning the hot weather can be dangerous for those with heart problems and breathing difficulties.

People are being advised to drink plenty of fluids and drink extra water even before they feel thirsty. Older adults and children need to be checked regularly for signs of heat-related illness and make sure they are keeping cool and drinking plenty of fluids.

For more information on heat-related illness go to the HealthLink B.C. website.

For the very latest forecasts and weather warnings, check on Environment Canada’s website.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.