Heat warnings covering parts of southern B.C. expand into Metro Vancouver

Heat warnings across parts of southern British Columbia and Vancouver Island over the weekend have been extended into Metro Vancouver.

Environment Canada says a heat warning is active for both Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley for the next two days, with temperatures possibly reaching 33 C.

The temperature is not expected to drop below 17 C overnight, and the weather agency says the warnings are expected to persist until Wednesday.

Environment Canada had issued warnings Saturday for regions including Fraser Canyon, South Thompson, South Okanagan, Howe Sound, Whistler and Pemberton, as well as inland and eastern Vancouver Island.

Those warnings have also been extended through Tuesday, with the temperature expected to reach 35 C in Fraser Canyon, South Thompson and South Okanagan.

Daily daytime high records were broken in several communities Sunday, with Nanaimo hitting 34.2 C, breaking a record set in 1981, while Sechelt's 31.6 C displaced a record from 1956.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns