Heat wave

Another heat wave is forecast for the community over the next few days but is not expected to reach the temperatures experienced in June. (File photo)

LETTER: Reach out to Maple Ridge Salvation Army to escape the heat

Letter writer said two neighbours died in June’s heat wave, prompting her to seek out local options

  • Jul 28, 2021
Another heat wave is forecast for the community over the next few days but is not expected to reach the temperatures experienced in June. (File photo)
Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries team handed out water bottles, to all who wanted them during the last heat wave at the end of June, at Maple Ridge’s Memorial Peace Park. (Ronan O’Doherty - The News)

Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Katzie Seniors Network advises public to check on elderly during upcoming heat wave

Friday temperature expected to feel like 38 C with Humidex

Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries team handed out water bottles, to all who wanted them during the last heat wave at the end of June, at Maple Ridge’s Memorial Peace Park. (Ronan O’Doherty - The News)
A plume of smoke rise from a forest fire burning northeast of the city in Prince Albert, Sask., Monday, May 17, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Kayle Neis)

Western Canada desperately needs rain but it’s not in the forecast: climatologist

300 wildfires were burning across British Columbia Monday, evacuation orders were issued for several regions

A plume of smoke rise from a forest fire burning northeast of the city in Prince Albert, Sask., Monday, May 17, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Kayle Neis)
The East Toe is a outcropping of rock in the Fraser River at the Big Bar Landslide site, northwest of Kamloops that has to be removed to restore fish passage. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Salmon and other sea life affected by recent heat waves, experts say

Surface waters are warmer than they have been historically

The East Toe is a outcropping of rock in the Fraser River at the Big Bar Landslide site, northwest of Kamloops that has to be removed to restore fish passage. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
A University of Toronto study has found the environmental DNA of pathogens harmful to fish are 2.7 times more likely to be detected near active salmon farms versus inactive sites. (Kenny Regan photo)

Salmon and other sea life affected by recent heat waves, experts say

A sweltering heat wave baked much of Western Canada the last week of June

A University of Toronto study has found the environmental DNA of pathogens harmful to fish are 2.7 times more likely to be detected near active salmon farms versus inactive sites. (Kenny Regan photo)
Temperatures soared into the 40s this summer as the province of B.C., Canada baked in a ‘heat dome.’ (Caitlin Clow/Vernon Morning Star)

Extreme heat waves are putting lakes and rivers in hot water this summer

Many people may perceive lakes and rivers to be refuges from unprecedented heat, but freshwater systems are no less sensitive

  • Jul 16, 2021
Temperatures soared into the 40s this summer as the province of B.C., Canada baked in a ‘heat dome.’ (Caitlin Clow/Vernon Morning Star)
Sparks Lake wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)

‘Heat is just relentless’: Meteorologist warns of hot, dry summer ahead for B.C.

Environment Canada isn’t expecting any significant rain until the second half of August

Sparks Lake wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)
Sarah De Francesco, left, Albert Huynh, right, and Leanne Opuyes, back left, cool off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Climate change made B.C., Alberta heat wave 150 times more likely, study concludes

‘Everybody’s really worried about the implications of this event, nobody saw this coming’

Sarah De Francesco, left, Albert Huynh, right, and Leanne Opuyes, back left, cool off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Leah Paris and Lyzz Harmer had to hose down each one of the 30 horses in their care during the heat wave last weekend. (Paris Equestrian/Special to The News)

Horses at Maple Ridge riding school ride out heat wave thanks to extra love and care

Had to be hosed down with cold water four times a day

Leah Paris and Lyzz Harmer had to hose down each one of the 30 horses in their care during the heat wave last weekend. (Paris Equestrian/Special to The News)
Extreme heat played a factor in an unprecedented amount of B.C. deaths this week, says chief coroner Lisa Lapointe.(Black Press Media files)

B.C. deaths triple over the past week, to 719, as a result of heat wave

Many of the deaths were among older individuals living alone in private residences

Extreme heat played a factor in an unprecedented amount of B.C. deaths this week, says chief coroner Lisa Lapointe.(Black Press Media files)
People try to beat the heat at a beach on June 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Persistent pressure from B.C. heat wave to affect rest of summer: meteorologist

Seasonal modelling is predicting higher-than-normal temperatures to persist through August and September

People try to beat the heat at a beach on June 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
FILE – A healthcare worker watches as a B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a patient into an ambulance outside the emergency department at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., on Sunday, April 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Paramedics call situation ‘unbearable’ as B.C. heat wave death count hits 486

Union says low pay has led to staff shortages that saw ambulances sitting empty

FILE – A healthcare worker watches as a B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a patient into an ambulance outside the emergency department at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., on Sunday, April 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Leanne Opuyes uses a spray bottle to mist her face while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Western heat shifts in some areas of B.C., territories, but still blazing elsewhere

Relief is still days away for eastern B.C. and the Prairies

Leanne Opuyes uses a spray bottle to mist her face while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Dozens of officers have been redeployed in Vancouver to respond to those in medical distress during the heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Sudden death toll rises to 98 in Vancouver amid scorching heat wave

Two-thirds of the deaths occurred to people 70 years or older, according to Vancouver Police

Dozens of officers have been redeployed in Vancouver to respond to those in medical distress during the heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
B.C.’s chief coroner has issued a warning after a spike in sudden deaths, possibly due to heat wave. (Black Press/file photo)

Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows sees spike in sudden deaths

B.C.’s top coroner warns heat could be to blame for a spike across the province

B.C.’s chief coroner has issued a warning after a spike in sudden deaths, possibly due to heat wave. (Black Press/file photo)
Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm outside Victoria shows damage that heat caused on his raspberry crop. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Vancouver Island farmers face significant crop losses due to excessive heat

Berry patches suffer extensive damage, but high temperatures a benefit for corn growers

Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm outside Victoria shows damage that heat caused on his raspberry crop. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Relocated animals from the Reptile Room are safe for now in an air-conditioned room provided by Brian Goldstone and Griffin Security. (submitted photos)

Heat wave kills hundreds of animals at Chilliwack’s Reptile Room

People took some animals in and many more are staying in an air conditioned room at Griffin Security

Relocated animals from the Reptile Room are safe for now in an air-conditioned room provided by Brian Goldstone and Griffin Security. (submitted photos)
Police in Burnaby were dispatched to more than 25 sudden deaths Monday, June 28. (Black Press Media files)

Dozens of deaths in Vancouver, Burnaby linked to heat wave as police scramble to keep up

911 operators saw a 55% rise in calls this weekend

Police in Burnaby were dispatched to more than 25 sudden deaths Monday, June 28. (Black Press Media files)
People sit on rocks while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Lytton, B.C., breaks all-time Canadian max temperature records yet again with 47.9 C

BC Hydro says the province set another all-time summer peak hourly demand record

People sit on rocks while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Albert Huynh cools off in the frigid Lynn Creek water as Leanne Opuyes, left, laughs in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. A stifling heat wave throughout much of Western Canada is unusual because of the nighttime temperatures it is bringing, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Heat wave marked by unusually high night time temperatures

Temperatures higher overnight than they would normally be during the day for this time of the year

Albert Huynh cools off in the frigid Lynn Creek water as Leanne Opuyes, left, laughs in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. A stifling heat wave throughout much of Western Canada is unusual because of the nighttime temperatures it is bringing, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck