Temperatures in British Columbia have hit all-time Canadian record levels for the month of September for the second consecutive day, as extremely hot and smoky conditions persist across much of the province.
The mercury hit a new record of 40.8 C in Cache Creek on Wednesday, a day after Lytton matched the 40 C record that had previously been set in Manitoba.
Cache Creek, about 85 kilometres west of Kamloops, was among 16 locations that set daily heat records on Wednesday and there are six heat warnings in place in areas including the Fraser Canyon, the Thompson region, Boundary and 100 Mile.
More than 30 air-quality alerts meanwhile cover much of B.C., including Metro Vancouver which woke to another hazy day, although the air-quality health index was down from the maximum 10-plus level on Wednesday.
B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said Wednesday that the smoky conditions may worsen in the next few days.
Environment Canada's special air-quality statements cover large swaths of the province, stretching from Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Canyon into the Thompson, Cariboo, Okanagan, Kootenay and Peace regions.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
