OCN11 CWVR 291254
Special weather statement
Issued for coastal British Columbia by Environment Canada at 5:55 AM
PDT Wednesday 29 July 2009.
Extreme heat & poor air quality for metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley
Metro Vancouver, in cooperation with Environment Canada, the Fraser
Valley regional district and the B.C. environment ministry, is
continuing an air quality advisory. Air quality in the metro
Vancouver and Fraser Valley regional district has deteriorated due to
high smog levels brought on by very hot and sunny weather.? poor air
quality will persist until at least Friday when the ridge of high
pressure weakens, allowing cooler air to move in and disperse the
pollutants.
An unusually long heat-wave across the south coast of British
Columbia continues. Maximum temperatures into the mid-to upper 30S
can be expected. Computer models suggest the heat-wave may last
another 4 to 5 days. Many daily temperature records will be broken
and possibly monthly temperature records such as hottest July day on
record.
There are 3 issues of concern:
1) health and safety effects of an extended period of hot weather.
2) deteriorating air quality from extreme heat and air stagnation.
3) increasing risk of fire due to heat and extremely dry conditions.
1) coping with the heat
Environment Canada and the bc centre for disease control (bccdc) are
reminding british columbians to take certain precautions to protect
themselves from the heat, including:
* never leave children or pets alone in a parked car. Temperatures
can rise to 52 c (125 f) within 20 minutes in an enclosed vehicle
when the outside temperature is 34 c (93 f). Leaving the car windows
slightly open or "cracked" will not keep the inside of the vehicle at
a safe temperature.
* drink Plenty of water and don't wait until you are thirsty to
drink. Talk to your doctor if you are on water pills or currently
limiting your fluid intake.
* avoid sunburn stay in the shade or use sunscreen with spf 15 or
more.
* to keep cool on hot days, stay indoors in air-conditioned
facilities or take a cool bath or shower. At indoor temperatures
above 35 c, fans are not effective at preventing heat-related
illness.
* limit daytime outdoor activity to early morning and late afternoon.
* avoid tiring work or exercise in the heat. If you must exercise,
drink two to four glasses of non-alcoholic fluids each hour.
* check regularly on older people, and those who are unable to leave
their homes, for signs of heat-related illness.
There are a variety of mild to severe symptoms linked with
heat-related illness, including thirst, dizziness, confusion,
weakness and fainting/collapsing. These are especially likely to
occur in the elderly and in persons with chronic conditions who are
exposed to the heat.
For more information on heat-related illness, please call bc
healthlink at 811, or visit WWW.BCCDC.CA.
2) coping with poor air quality
Air pollution can contribute to negative health effects ranging from
increased respiratory symptoms to hospitalizations and premature
deaths. According to health researchers, children, the elderly and
people with a pre-existing cardiac or respiratory illness are most at
risk. As the air quality deteriorates you may consider reducing or
rescheduling or avoiding strenuous activities outdoors especially if
you are experiencing symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
Residents are requested to reduce emissions to the atmosphere by
minimizing the use of their automobiles and curtailing other
activities which may lead to excess air emissions. For current air
quality conditions, go to WWW.BCAIRQUALITY.CA/READINGS/INDEX.HTML
3) reducing the risk of fire
All person-caused wildfires are preventable. Person-caused wildfires
are those related to abandoned campfires, smoking, logging,
railroads, brush or range burns, construction, recreation and arson.
* campfires are banned almost everywhere.
* do not discard smoking materials from vehicles, use interior
ashtrays. * lawn & farm equipment should have properly working spark
arresters to prevent sparks from exiting through the exhaust pipes.
* all terrain vehicles (atvs) produce an enormous amount of heat and
can ignite brush from their exhaust systems.
This bulletin will be updated within 12 hours.
END/PSPC
AWCN11 CWVR 290145 CCB
Special weather summary for coastal British Columbia issued by
Environment Canada at 6:45 PM PDT Tuesday 28 July 2009.
Daily temperature records set for July 28, 2009.
Jul 28 old
Record year
Max
Metro Vancouver
Pitt Meadows cs 35.5 35.2 1998
Greater Victoria
Victoria airport yyj 32.9 29.4 1958
Fraser Valley
Abbotsford airport yxx 36.2 34.4 1958
Hope airport yhe 38.0 37.8 1958
Agassiz cda 35.9 38.3 1958
Sea to sky
Squamish 34.8 32.0 1985
Whistler 36.6 35.7 1998
Pemberton airport cs 40.5 39.3 1998
Powell River airport 33.5 32.8 1958
Vancouver Island
Nanaimo airport 35.5 35.0 1958
Tofino airport 28.5 26.9 1985
Port Alberni 39.7 37.5 1998
North & cenral coast
Terrace airport yxt 36.0 34.4 1971
Bella Coola 37.5 36.7 1899
Chilcotin-Cariboo
Clinton auto 33.0 30.2 2004
Tatlayoko lake 35.1 35.0 1998
Central interior
Burns Lake 33.2 31.1 1958
Smithers airport 35.5 33.7 1998
(bron: weatheroffice.gc.ca)
Quote selectie