Smoke and heat warnings cover much of B.C. as Lytton reaches 40 degrees

Several municipalities in British Columbia have issued warnings for residents to check in on people who are vulnerable as heat pushing into the high 30s persists across much of the province.

Environment Canada issued dozens of warnings on Wednesday about heat and poor air quality as sweltering temperatures aggravate the wildfire situation in places such as Boston Bar and Kimberley.

The warnings come after several B.C. communities broke records for daily high temperatures on Tuesday, including in Cache Creek where it reached 39.1 Celsius, breaking the 37.8 mark set two years ago.

Daily heat records were also set on Tuesday in Fort Nelson, on the Sunshine Coast in Sechelt and on the northern coast in Smithers and Terrace, where the temperature of 33.1 Celsius broke a record set in 1990.

While Lytton didn’t set its own daily record, the 40.5 C recorded in the village was the hottest temperature recorded in Canada so far this year.

Heat warnings covered about two-thirds of the province on Wednesday, including Metro Vancouver, and the high temperatures aren’t expected to cool off much at night with no relief until at least Thursday.

The City of Vancouver issued an advisory to residents, asking them to take steps to protect themselves from the heat while also checking on family, friends and loved ones who may be vulnerable, especially those over age 60, those who are socially isolated and those with existing medical conditions, such as diabetes.

“Guidance from health practitioners indicates that indoor temperatures over 26 degrees can be dangerous to some and more than brief exposure to indoor temperatures 31 degrees and above can be dangerous for most people,” the advisory said. “Residents and visitors should make a plan to stay cool.”

It added that Vancouver’s outdoor city staff are watching for people who may be suffering from heat-related illness, and bottled water is available to be distributed to certain community groups.

Elsewhere in Metro Vancouver, the City of Surrey has issued a similar warning, asking people to watch out for symptoms such as swelling, rash, cramps and fainting that can be linked to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is cautioning residents to be prepared for temperatures reaching up to 37 C, while overnight lows may only dip to 16-to-20 degrees.

“Warmer overnight temperatures can limit the body’s ability to recover from daytime heat and increase the risk of heat-related illness,” the district said in its warning.

Wildfire smoke also blanketed the province this week, causing poor air quality and reduced visibility, and Environment Canada said that will persist until at least later this week.

The Metro Vancouver regional district has issued a yellow air quality warning for the region and the Fraser Valley, saying smog is expected to reach elevated levels due to a combination of the heat and the wildfire smoke.

The air is especially poor in the northern Peace region, while further north in the Fort Nelson region, both air quality and severe thunderstorm alerts have been posted.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2026.