Heat warnings expand across B.C. as wildfire smoke sparks air quality concerns

SQUAMISH — Heat and air quality warnings now cover the lower two-thirds of British Columbia, as Environment Canada warns of a ridge of high pressure that is moving inland.

The weather agency has posted heat warnings for central and eastern Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and inland sections of the north and central coast that are expected to last to Wednesday, while warnings for the Interior could persist until Thursday.

Temperatures in coastal areas are expected to crest 30 C, while the southern Interior and Fraser Valley can expect temperatures into the mid-30s, although the temperature surpassed 40 C in Lytton on Tuesday.

The weather office has also issued air quality advisories for the next 24 to 48 hours that cover much of central and southern B.C., caused by wildfire smoke as about 80 blazes burn across the province.

Environment Canada says smoke across the Skeena region was expected to thin by Tuesday, though it will persist in valley bottoms overnight and conditions are expected to worsen in southern regions.

The current wave of high temperatures led to four daily records being reached or breached on Monday, in Kitimat, Dease Lake, Sechelt and Squamish, where the temperature of 34.6 degrees surpassed a mark set in 1990.

Monday’s highest temperature in B.C. and Canada was 36.3 degrees in Lytton.

BC Hydro has said summer power consumption in the province may reach all-time highs this week as heat pushes people to use air conditioners in a bid to cool down.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2026.

The Canadian Press