Unseasonable hot weather set to reach Okanagan Friday

Residents of the Okanagan and Southern Interior are being warned of unseasonably hot temperatures over the next several days.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Wednesday, saying daytime temperatures will reach the low- to mid-30s over the Central and Southern Interior Friday, May 12, through Tuesday, May 16.

The overnight lows during that time are expected to be in the low to mid-teens.

The weather agency said those daytime highs are about 10 to 15 degrees above the seasonal averages and the overnight lows are five to 10 degrees above normal.

The rising temperatures will mean an increased risk of heat related illness, and Environment Canada advises people stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activities in the heat, and check in with the most vulnerable and those most at risk.

The heat will also raise the freezing level, which could lead to increase snowpack melting and causing local flooding due to high stream flow levels.

Environment Canada noted that while the temperatures are going to spike over the weekend, they won’t reach the same levels of the June 2021 “Heat Dome.”