June-uary turns into Island heat wave, warnings issued

Vancouver Island is in for a heat wave this week, with unusually high temperatures for June.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement on Monday to remind people temperatures are rising well above the average for June.

“Temperatures away from the coast will reach the low 30s . . . which is about 10 degrees above averages for the middle of June,” the national weather forecaster said.

“What we’re dealing with is a very strong ridge of pressure, which is the impetus to have these big open skies,” said Armel Castellan, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.

“And now, we’re into almost a solstice. We’re only a few days away, so the sun is at its maximum so the UV is extreme.

Summer solstice is June 21. The Farmer’s Almanac describes the solstice — the official first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere -— as occurring when the sun reaches both its highest and northernmost points in the sky. The word comes from Latin solstitium — from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), because the sun appears to stop moving in the sky as it reaches its northern or southern-most point, says the almanac.

Temperatures have been building since Friday, hitting a peak on the coast on Monday and then rising in the Interior today and Wednesday, Castellan said.

The high heat and UV index “have implications for all the health authorities,” Castellan said. Peak sun hours are typically 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

After initial weeks of cool weather in what some were calling June-uary, Port Alberni, Nanaimo and Campbell River temperatures were in the mid to high 30s, and 28 C was recorded at the Victoria airport on Monday.

Greater Victoria’s temperatures were expected to ease slightly today and Wednesday. For those who want to stay cool, Environment Canada says temperatures will be significantly cooler near the water.

The Environment Canada special weather statement included Greater Victoria, inland Vancouver Island and east Vancouver Island communities Courtenay to Campbell River, Duncan to Nanaimo and Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay.

Highs this week are expected to reach the low 30s in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, while in the Interior, temperatures are expected to hit about 35 C.

Heat warnings have also been issued for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Fort Nelson, and the Cariboo and Peace River regions.

Paddle boarders take to the water off Clover Point on Monday, when temperatures reached 28 C in parts of Greater Victoria. The Island will be feeling a heat wave for most of the week.