(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

Lytton hit 42.2 Celsius yesterday, Aug. 15, shattering its old record high for the day of 40.6 C set in 1967.

That was the hottest of eight communities in the Thompson-Okanagan that broke heat records, all of which were above 38 C.

Kamloops came in at 39.6 C, breaking its 1967 record of 37.2 C.

The forecast high for Kamloops for today is 35 C with heavy wildfire smoke. Its Air Quality Health Index reading is at 10+ this morning, meaning it has a very high health risk, going off the scale that tops out at 10.

That means even healthy people should reduce or eliminate strenuous outdoor activities while people with underlying health conditions should simply avoid those outdoor activities.

The air quality is forecast to ease to a 5 ranking, or moderate, today and tonight then climb to 7, or high health risk, tomorrow.

The Central Okanagan’s air quality was ranked at 1, or low, this morning while the North Okanagan was 6, or moderate. No reading was posted by Environment Canada for the South Okanagan.

The forecast for the entire Okanagan is for the air quality health risk to rise to 7, or high, today and tonight, dropping to 6, or moderate, tomorrow.

Kelowna recorded a high of 38.6 C yesterday, breaking its 2021 record of 37.7 C.

Penticton reached a high of 38.7 C, smashing its 1945 record of 36.1 while Vernon hit 37.7 C, breaking its 2008 record of 37.6 C.

The forecast for the Okanagan is for highs of 34 C today and 36 C on Thursday.

Other new records set in the region were Summerland at 38.4 C (vs 35.8 C in 2021), Merritt at 38.8 C (vs 38 C in 2003), Cache Creek at 41.1 C (vs 37.2 C in 1967) and Lillooet at 40.6 C (vs 37.9 C in 2008).

In BC, a total of 19 heat records were broken and another five fell in Alberta as this week’s heat wave continues along with heat warnings through most of southern BC and Alberta.

The red areas in this map show where heat warnings continue for today and tomorrow.

Image Credit: Submitted/Environment Canada

Highs through tomorrow could reach 42 C in some areas, according to the heat warning statement, but individual Environment Canada online forecasts for towns throughout the Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenay regions show highs of less than 40 C.

Kelowna is forecast to only reach 34 C today and 36 C tomorrow, partly because of the smoky skies expected through tomorrow.

The extreme heat wave is expected to ease on Friday but not by all that much.

Friday’s expected high for Kamloops is 28 C, rising to 31 C Sunday under sunny skies, if the smoke doesn’t persist.

In the Okanagan, Friday’s highs are forecast to be about 1 C lower, still reaching 30 C on Sunday.

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