First blast of summer heat headed for southern B.C. – BC [Video]

Southern British Columbia is bracing for its first serious bout of hot weather of the season.

Environment Canada has issued special weather statements for most of southern B.C., stretching from southern and eastern Vancouver Island through to Revelstoke, the Okanagan Valley and Grand Forks.

“A ridge of high pressure is bringing high temperatures to the region. Daytime highs are expected to be in the high 20s to low 30s with overnight lows in the low- to mid-teens,” on the South Coast, the weather and climate agency warned.

The high temperatures are forecast to persist into next week, with the latest forecasts showing the heat peaking on Sunday and Monday.

“This will be the first prolonged heat event of the year,” Global BC senior meteorologist Kristi Gordon said.

Temperatures will be five to 10 degrees above average across the South Coast for six days, through Tuesday. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, many areas away from the water in Metro Vancouver and through …