Hot enough for ya?

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Well, when it's 20C at 5am you know it's gonna be a hot one! And it's warmer this morning than it was yesterday morning.

The forecast for today has been changed from a high of 33 to 35 now.

I heard someone call in on the radio yesterday evening, saying that it was 100.3F outside the Highlands fire station! Roughly 38C.

Scorcher of a day: Victoria 33, Port Alberni 38

More heat coming, but cooler days forecast for weekend

Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Records melted all over Vancouver Island yesterday, as sun lovers basked under blue skies and unrelenting sunshine.

In Victoria, the hot-weather record dissolved by mid-afternoon as the thermometer hit 33 degrees at the airport.

The previous record for July 10 was set in 1951, when the temperature climbed to 28.9 degrees.

A COOL WAY TO SPEND A HOT AFTERNOON: Jen Craft and Cory Wiebe, both from Sooke, enjoy floating around on their inner tubes in the Sooke Potholes -- a popular summertime spot.View Larger Image View Larger Image

Debra Brash, Times Colonist

"If it's going to be hot, we might as well go for the record," said Environment Canada weather specialist Anne McCarthy.

Today promises to be another sizzler, with a forecast of 33 degrees, and dropping back to 31 degrees tomorrow.

Just in time for the weekend, the sunshine will change to a mix of sun and cloud and a forecast high of 27 degrees. However, the 14-day trend shows temperatures will be well above the average 21.7 degrees for the following week.

For those having a hard time coping in the heat, Port Alberni is the place to avoid. The temperature climbed to a record-breaking 34 degrees yesterday and the forecast is for 38 degrees today. The heat shatters the previous record of 33.5 degrees set in 2002.

Nanaimo eked out a record late in the afternoon as the temperature edged over 34 degrees. The previous record, set in 1952, was 33.3 degrees. With a forecast of 36 degrees today, records are again expected to tumble.

Even as temperatures reach sizzling point, there are places to chill out, McCarthy said. Areas closest to the water in Victoria, where there is a breeze, are about two degrees cooler, she said.

The ocean acts as a giant cooler, so areas such as Esquimalt and communities along the Juan de Fuca Strait cool down more easily.

"When you're next to a body of cold water, it's like standing next to the fridge with the door open," she said.

Anyone wanting to take the edge off the heat could head to Tofino, where fog is expected to develop tomorrow, sending the daily high down to 17 degrees on Friday, with a low of 13 degrees.

Do you have a favourite way to stay cool? E-mail your suggestions to localnews@tc.canwest.com. Or submit a comment in the Soundoff section below.

STAY SAFE OUT THERE, EVERYONE!

[GFD748]

At 9:30am it is 74 degrees and over cast in TN.

[MalahatTwo7]

Weather for today:

Current Conditions
Condition: Cloudy
Temperature: 78F / 25C
RealFeel®: 85F / 29
Wind: 7 mph SSE
Barometer: 29.82
Humidity: 81%
Sunrise: 5:52 AM
Sunset: 8:35

yesterday was hotter - Code Orange for air quality and close on 100F plus humidity (I have no idea to what factor). All I know it is was HOT, while sitting on a lawn chair at an outdoor swim meet, hoping that the one dehydration case was to be the only one (which it was. ) Although I guess the thunder storms that were everywhere except the little bit of Herndon that I was working in were pretty kuul; apparently my dog did not think so though, judging by the destruction of some of the siding on the house, and my BBQ.

[SteveDude]

What is Summer.....

This time last year... and the year before and the year before...we were in high 80's/ low 90's in the South East of the UK... This summer, we are still waiting!!!!

By Mid March we were already hitting low 70's...high 70's in April...then winter came back in May!!!!

This has been the wettest summer since 1982 so far and june was the wettest since records began in 1860. Despite the urban myth about the foggy and damp UK, it is just that, particularly down in the SE where the climate is quite warm and dry.

So, when I am sitting here waiting for my summer to begin again, I don't need you on the other side of the pond bragging about it!!!!

But apparently it will be 75 by saturday, so it's heading in the right direction.

[GFD748]

"This has been the wettest summer since 1982 so far and june was the wettest since records began in 1860".

I'll trade you some rain for some sun shine. We are 13 inches below normal and we're not the worst.

[ndvfdff33]

We finally got rain today in Ontario. Got rid of some of this damn humidity we had and cooled things off a bit.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Rick, I can guarantee you've never seen temps this high when you were here.

Records are going to be smashed today. I heard reports on the Q earlier today of 108F at the Luxton grounds, 40C at the airport. And we didn't reach our highest temps until ohhh 6-7pm ish last night. So I'm sure it's only getting worse out there.

The bus ride home (from Quadra/Mackenzie to Esquimalt, basically, with a stop at the Shell to buy a lighter and a 10 minute wait in the hot hot hottttt sun standing waiting for the next bus), was freakin' hell unless we were moving.

Still wouldn't trade it though ... which brings me to Steve and Martin .... we were in the same boat as you until last week. That's why you won't hear many people complaining, no matter how hot it gets! Everyone was SICK TO DEATH of the endless winter and crappy spring.

They just said it was 40 in Langford!

I'll update this later when the final temps are in

[nyckftbl]

Rick, I can guarantee you've never seen temps this high when you were here.

Records are going to be smashed today. I heard reports on the Q earlier today of 108F at the Luxton grounds, 40C at the airport. And we didn't reach our highest temps until ohhh 6-7pm ish last night. So I'm sure it's only getting worse out there.

The bus ride home (from Quadra/Mackenzie to Esquimalt, basically, with a stop at the Shell to buy a lighter and a 10 minute wait in the hot hot hottttt sun standing waiting for the next bus), was freakin' hell unless we were moving.

Still wouldn't trade it though ... which brings me to Steve and Martin .... we were in the same boat as you until last week. That's why you won't hear many people complaining, no matter how hot it gets! Everyone was SICK TO DEATH of the endless winter and crappy spring.

They just said it was 40 in Langford!

I'll update this later when the final temps are in

Wow...its cold up there! We havent been in the 40s since March!

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Funny guy!

News is on the radio right now. 3 dogs were left outside in this heat with no water or anything, removed and taken to the shelter.

2 were tied up in a back yard, another was tied up in the back of a truck at Elk Lake, where I believe it was 38 earlier today.

Stupid people.

[Just a new name]

I was just out in Palm Springs Ca. It was 120 F. It was in the 108- 120 range all week.

[nyckftbl]

Funny guy!

News is on the radio right now. 3 dogs were left outside in this heat with no water or anything, removed and taken to the shelter.

2 were tied up in a back yard, another was tied up in the back of a truck at Elk Lake, where I believe it was 38 earlier today.

Stupid people.

Tie the people up with no food or water for a day in the heat...

[MalahatTwo7]

Tie the people up with no food or water for a day in the heat...

During the swim meet on Wed, there were at least 3 reports of "lockouts" to vehicles with animals locked in the vehicle at one shopping mall or another, throughout the County. NYC, I concur with your suggestion.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

The official high ended up being 36.3

Island bakes in record heat wave

Victoria thermometers crack 36 degrees as records tumble across province

Times Colonist; CanWest News Service
Published: Thursday, July 12, 2007

Victoria yesterday registered the highest temperature since record-keeping began at Victoria airport, soaring to a baking 36.3 degrees. The previous record was 36.1 in 1941. Victorians also experienced the hottest night ever recorded when the temperature dropped to a balmy 19.6 C overnight Tuesday, beating the high of 18.3 C set in 1944.

Victoria was one of five B.C. communities to set all-time records yesterday, along with Chilliwack -- the hot spot at 38.8 -- Abbotsford, 37.9, Squamish, 37.6 and White Rock, 36.

Seventeen other communities broke specific temperature records for July 11.


"Most of the all-time records were broken on the coast or in southwestern B.C. and there might be others trickling in," said Environment Canada meteorologist Reg Dunkley.

Among the communities setting records for the 11th were Lillooet, at 37.8, and Lytton, at 38.2.

Not far behind was Port Alberni, where the mercury rose to 37 yesterday. Though it didn't break the Aug. 8, 1978, record of 38.4, it was so hot that the freezers at Dairy Queen couldn't keep the ice-cream cold -- one freezer broke down Tuesday.

The freezer was repaired, but it doesn't really matter because the ice cream is moving so fast, it doesn't need to stay frozen for long, said store manager Ken Terryberry. "It's not particularly one menu item people are buying. It's anything to do with ice cream."

Two elements are causing the heat wave, said Environment Canada weather specialist Anne McCarthy. A large bulge of hot air is pushing into the area, while atmospheric pressure offshore is lower than in the Interior, reversing wind patterns and sending warm air from the mainland over the Island, she said.

As temperatures skyrocket, B.C. Ferries deckhands -- two of whom suffered heat stroke this week -- are threatening to refuse to work if the company continues to insist they wear the wool hats and long pants that replaced traditional summer shorts May 1. U n i o n president Jackie Miller said two workers ordered to wear the mandatory full-brim, 100-per-cent wool, navy-blue hats and long pants suffered heat stroke yesterday.

A third was sent home after refusing to wear the winter-weight hat when the thermometer hit 50 C. The three work the Denman and Quadra Island runs, where deck temperatures soared to a reported 56 degrees yesterday on the Powell River Queen.

Captains, however, have recently been allowed to remove their ties because of the hot weather.

B.C. Ferries did not return calls from CanWest News Service asking why shorts had been eliminated for some crew, but Miller said workers who complained were told the uniforms were needed to maintain professionalism and for safety reasons in case crew had to fight a fire. Miller said the u n i o n was attempting to contact WorkSafe B.C. about the issue and has told workers they could refuse unsafe, overheated work conditions.

One of the hottest places to work yesterday was the number-five machine room at Port Alberni's Catalyst Paper Corp. mill, where John Fitzpatrick, director of pulp and utilities, took a 40 C reading.

Heat generated by machinery and steam used to treat paper combine to create sauna-like conditions. When equipment is running, operators work from air-conditioned control rooms, but if it breaks down, repairs have to be made in the extreme heat.

Luckily, the mill hasn't experienced any equipment failures over the past couple of days, Fitzpatrick said.

Mayor Ken McRae remembers excruciating days at the mill, where he used to work in maintenance.

"I think [the hot weather is] fantastic because I don't work in the paper mill anymore," said the former mill maintenance worker. "So this is really nice because for 38 years, I would wear a hard hat, earplugs and a set of coveralls."

Two people were treated at a Nanaimo hospital for sunburn Tuesday when the temperatures there rose to 34 C, beating a record set in 1952 by one degree.

The hot, dry weather has prompted the city of Nanaimo to advise the Ministry of Forests to ban smoking in all parks and trails in the city.

The Nanaimo Fire Department has also issued a ban on burning. Only the use of natural gas, propane or briquette barbecues is permitted.

Campfires are allowed in private campgrounds.Islanders can pretend for at least one more day they live in a tropical zone before it starts to cool off over the weekend, with rain forecast for Sunday in Victoria.

The mercury is expected to dip by five to 10 per cent across the province in the next few days as the wind direction shifts.

The forecast high for Victoria today is a more comfortable 27 C.

[MalahatTwo7]

I feel for the ships' crews, but I also understand the safety factor very well too. Aboard ship we were allowed to wear shorts if we were "off duty" but while standing our sea watches, we had to have long shirt and pants on, and our jackets had to always be "handy", in case of a fire related emergency. And even those of us off watch had to have long clothes somewhere close at hand (well... ok we were "supposed" to have....)

However, the good thing about hot weather in Victoria: blink your eyes twice, wriggle your nose, and tap your heels together and the weather will change. Also the predominant westerly winds off the Pacific usually do a great deal to moderate the temps. I miss that part out here on the "Wrong" Side of Town. LOL

[RspctFrmCalgary]

There was enough of a breeze to make it not bad at all

It's really breezy down here by the water this morning.

[SteveDude]

"This has been the wettest summer since 1982 so far and june was the wettest since records began in 1860".

I'll trade you some rain for some sun shine. We are 13 inches below normal and we're not the worst.

Mate, you are welcome to it...as much as you want you can have.... Our problem would appear to be the Jet Stream....

FROM WWW.METCHECK.COM

Signs Of A Change?
Added : Wed 11 July : 08:56BST


I don't think anyone will be in any doubt that we haven't really had a summer this year, not unless you class the excellent April our summer.

Weeks of endless rain during June produced one of the wettest June months since records began. This was also after a poor May. The unsettled conditions are continuing well into July, however are there signs of a change?

The primary problem we have been experiencing for numerous weeks now is the location and intensity of the jet stream.

During the summer months, the jet stream usually looses its intensity and organisation and pushes to the North of the UK. This keeps any summer low pressure systems well to the North of the country, allowing our good friend the Azores High to dominate. This summer has been completely the opposite.

The jet stream at times has been remarkably organised and intense. Not only that its location has been where we would normally expect it during the winter. As a result it's been low pressure after low pressure.

However there are some tentative signs of a change as we approach the end of July. Long range forecast products are showing signs that the Azores High may become a feature of the weather later this month.

It really is early doors and it would be a huge change in the weather compared to the summer so far. However if these early signs continue then confidence will increase and we could perhaps be looking at some prolonged, settled, warm weather before the end of the month.

Don't uncover the BBQ just yet, but watch this space!...