t’s going to get hot this weekend!
Environment Canada and Climate Change has issued a Special Weather Statement for Greater Victoria, forecasting unseasonably hot weather developing over coastal BC, beginning Friday, May 12 through to Tuesday, May 16.
Daytime highs will reach into the high 20s to low 30s, with overnight lows in the low to mid-teens. The highest temperatures are expected on Sunday and Monday.
For information on how to prepare for the heat, how to keep cool when temperatures spike and how to identify heat-related illness and more, visit our Extreme Heat Resources page.
Get VictoriaReady for the heat and remember these tips:
- Stay hydrated (carry a refillable water bottle for filling at Victoria drinking fountains)
- Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, usually 2 to 6 p.m.
- Wear light, loose clothing and a hat
- If working outside, take breaks and find shade
- Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle
- Check on your neighbours
Heat Alerts
There are three categories of heat alerts issued by Environment Canada and Climate Change:
- Special Weather Statement
A Special Weather Statement may be issued for the first heat event of the year, providing local governments time to provide helpful heat preparation information to communities before it gets hot.
- Heat Warning
A Heat Warning will be declared in Victoria when daytime high temperatures are forecasted to reach at least 29 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days, with the nighttime lows not falling below 16 degrees Celsius.
- Extreme Heat Emergency
An Extreme Heat Emergency will be declared in Victoria when the temperature forecast meets the criteria for a Heat Warning, with temperatures continuing to increase over a three-day period.
If an Extreme Heat Emergency is declared, the City will open cooling centres and misting stations and activate its Heat Response Plan. Locations of heat-related resources will be communicated to residents using the City’s social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook and through the City’s emergency notification system Vic-Alert.