![]() ![]() Other risks from high heat include headache, muscle cramps, dehydration, and vomiting. Because bodies of water haven’t yet had a chance to warm up either, health officials also warned about the risk of drowning from “ cold shock,” a phenomenon that suddenly slows people’s heart rate and blood pressure after jumping into cold water. This is particularly important during an early season scorcher, as people haven’t yet had a chance to acclimate to hotter temperatures. Health officials throughout the region warned residents to stay cool and hydrated - especially vulnerable populations like children, outdoor workers, and people with chronic health conditions. Portland is better equipped but still lags behind other metropolitan areas. Seattle is the least air conditioned major city in the U.S., with cooling systems installed in just over half of its housing units - compared to nearly 90 percent in New York City. The normally temperate Pacific Northwest is particularly susceptible to intense heat. “Many places in the Pacific Northwest from Washington up into British Columbia are going to experience conditions that are at least five times more likely due to climate change,” Andrew Pershing, a climate scientist with the nonprofit Climate Central, told KUOW radio in Seattle.Īcross the U.S., heat waves have become nearly three times as frequent since the 1960s, and the heat wave season has expanded by some 46 days. Lytton, about three hours northeast of Vancouver, clocked 93 degrees on Saturday - the province’s highest temperature.Įxperts say the unseasonal temperatures could also affect Alberta, where dozens of wildfires have burned 1 million acres and caused tens of thousands of people to evacuate.Įvidence suggests climate change is making these heat waves more likely. At least 17 temperature records fell across British Columbia during the weekend, including in the capital of Victoria, which saw a high of 83 degrees. Here's HowĬanada is feeling the heat, too. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. ![]()
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