A summer-like heat spell will grip Metro Vancouver starting Sunday, bringing unseasonably warm conditions just as thousands of runners prepare for the BMO Vancouver Marathon. City temperatures are forecast to climb into the upper 20s Celsius, several degrees above the typical early May average, with Environment Canada warning that peak heat will hit Monday, according to meteorologist Catherine Aubry.
The warm stretch is expected to push several communities in the Fraser Valley above daily temperature records. In Pitt Meadows, Abbotsford and Hope, Aubry said record highs could be broken. “We’re going from 7 to 13 degrees above what is the normal temperature,” Aubry said Saturday.
The steep increase is prompting concern for marathon participants who aren’t used to running in the heat. In an advisory issued Friday, Vancouver Coastal Health warned that even though official heat-warning thresholds aren’t expected to be met, “marathon participants may not be acclimatized to running in heat, which can lead to heat-related illness and injury.”
Runners are urged to prioritize safety over pace. That includes slowing down, wearing sunscreen, drinking water and electrolyte fluids before, during and after the race, and avoiding wearing costumes or heavy layers. Officials cautioned that heat exhaustion and heat stroke can escalate quickly, saying anyone feeling overheated should stop immediately, move into shade and cool down by removing layers and using water. “If you become confused or faint, stop the race, notify staff, and seek medical attention immediately. Call 911,” the advisory states.
Health officials say weekend weather is a preview of conditions ahead, with long-range forecasts pointing to a hotter-than-normal spring and summer in Vancouver. Aubry said that above-average temperatures are forecast to persist for at least the next two weeks, after an April that was drier and warmer than usual. “We are about 80 per cent certain that there will be hotter-than-normal temperatures for June, July and August as well,” the meteorologist added.
Meanwhile, a Vancouver city councillor is pushing for expanded protections to help residents cope with the expected weather. A motion from Coun. Lucy Maloney, set for committee review next week, calls for the city to allocate money or tap reserves and contingency funds to support expanded cooling measures throughout the summer. The proposal includes longer hours and increased capacity at cooling centres, additional staff training and sustained funding for heat-relief programs, including a return of cooling kit distribution for vulnerable residents through community organizations, the funding for which the city recently cut.
