Major, early-season heat event is on the way for British Columbia
British Columbia is preparing for an early-season heat event, with temperatures expected to soar 5°C to 15°C above seasonal norms, increasing wildfire and drought risks
British Columbia is bracing for a significant, early-season heat event, resulting from a strong ridge of high pressure building over the region in the coming days.
While temperatures will sit above seasonal averages throughout the week, the peak heat is forecast to develop by Saturday, May 6.
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The heat is expected to intensify across B.C.'s Interior, including northern sections, as the ridge progresses inland.
On April 20, Lytton recorded the year’s first 30°C reading. This heat event may push multiple locations to surpass that threshold.
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Heat event timing and temperature outlook (May 2–May 7):
Coastal areas: 20–25°C
Coastal (inland areas): 25–30°C
Southern Interior: 30–35°C
Temperatures during this event will average 5–10°C above normal for early May, with some areas seeing anomalies closer to 15°C above average.
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Potential impacts
This unseasonal heat may exacerbate wildfire risks and intensify drought conditions already present in parts of B.C.
Although most regions won’t break records for the earliest 30°C reading, Abbotsford has the highest probability of hitting this threshold.
Earliest recorded 30°C temperatures in select B.C. cities:
Abbotsford: May 1, 1998
Campbell River: May 12, 1993
Nanaimo: May 12, 1993
Vancouver: May 29, 1983
Comox: May 14, 2023
