Extreme heat expected to be brief in Kamloops, Okanagan this week

The Southern Interior, including Kamloops and the Okanagan, is expecting some serious heat this week, but only for a few days.

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Okanagan Valley, Fraser Canyon, South Thompson, Boundary and West Kootenay from Tuesday to Thursday.

“We’ve got a ridge of high pressure building as of today, and that’s going to give us a spell of warmer weather over the next four days or so,” Environment Canada meteorologist Matt Loney told iNFOnews.ca.

“Temperatures are going to eclipse 30 degrees on all of those days starting today, with the heat kind of maxing out on Wednesday and Thursday.”

Temperatures are expected to hit 35 C to 37 C and only cooling off to 18 C overnight, but the heat should be short lived.

There’s a chance of rain in the forecast for Friday and Saturday bringing temperatures down to the high 20s.

Loney said folks should try to limit activity in the extreme heat and check in on folks who don’t have air conditioning.

“Limiting your activities outdoors to be early morning or late in the evening hours. Doing welfare checks on people who might be living alone and not in air-conditioned areas. So sort of a welfare check on the elderly or those who may not have substantial contact with others,” Loney said.