Heat warnings and air-quality advisories are persisting in parts of British Columbia after daily high temperature records fell in a dozen communities, and the mercury rose to 40 C in the Fraser Canyon.
Environment Canada says Lytton, B.C., reached that mark on Tuesday, breaking a record of 39.6 C set in 2022.
Other B.C. communities that set new daily high temperature records included Cache Creek in the Interior where the temperature hit 39.3 C, as well as Kelowna, Princeton and Whistler.
Heat warnings remain in place for nine areas of the province, including inland portions of the north and central coast, the North and South Thompson, the Fraser Canyon and Boundary regions.
Air-quality advisories due to wildfire smoke meanwhile cover 13 areas of the Interior and northeast, while heavy haze was also hanging over Metro Vancouver.
Environment Canada says temperatures in the southern Interior are due to a ridge of high pressure "anchored" over the region, creating a "moderate risk" to public health.
The heat warnings are expected to end by Thursday for the southern Interior and Friday for inland parts of the north and central coast.
The smoke related to the air advisories is expected to persist until Friday in most places.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
