With hot weather on the way for B.C., residents warned of heat-related illness and flood risks
Government says people should monitor symptoms as hot spell settles over much of the province
Weather forecasters say the year's first hot spell is about to settle over much of the province, bringing temperatures in the low to mid-30s, raising concerns of heat-related illness as well as rapid snowmelt and flood risks.
Environment Canada has issued special weather statements for most of British Columbia, saying warmer-than-average weather is expected to begin Friday and last until Tuesday.
Temperatures are expected to rise into the low to mid-30s in the Interior, low 30s in the Lower Mainland and Sea to Sky, and high 20s on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
The province's Public Safety Ministry says in a statement that a heat warning is not in the forecast but residents should be prepared.
The statement advises people to watch for symptoms including dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, confusion, headache, rapid breathing and heartbeat, extreme thirst and decreased urination.
Forecasters have also raised concerns that daytime heat and modest overnight cooling will rapidly melt still-heavy snowpacks, adding to flood risks.
The River Forecast Centre has issued a flood warning for the Quesnel River, east of Williams Lake, and a flood watch for the Thompson River along the section from Kamloops to Spences Bridge.
Thunderstorms and rain have the potential to push those water level higher before expected heat compounds the problem with snowmelt.
Flood Watch issued by River Forecast Centre for Northeast BC including areas around <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FortNelson?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FortNelson</a> and Northern Rocky Mountains. Flood Watch is maintained for Liard River, tributaries around Fort Nelson and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy97?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCHwy97</a> towards <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WatsonLake?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WatsonLake</a>. More info: <a href="https://t.co/kl6GRVno8X">https://t.co/kl6GRVno8X</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCFlood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCFlood</a>
—@EmergencyInfoBCThe centre is maintaining flood watches for other rivers in the Cariboo, Thompson and Shuswap regions.
In northeastern B.C., a rainfall warning and special weather statement are in effect. Up to 50 millimetres of rain is expected in the region, causing what the centre says could be rapid jumps in river levels by Thursday.
River forecasters have added areas around Fort Nelson and the northern Rocky Mountains to the flood watch issued earlier for the Liard River between Fort Nelson and the Yukon boundary.
A high streamflow advisory has been issued for the Nechako River from Vanderhoof east toward Prince George, although major flooding is not expected there.