Extreme heat

A two-tiered Heat Alert & Response System is in place in Canada to help alert the public when extremely hot temperatures are forecasted including a Heat Warning and an Extreme Heat Emergency:  

Heat Warning: Issued when two or more consecutive days of daytime maximum temperatures are expected to reach 35°C or warmer and nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to fall to 18°C or warmer. 

What should I do?

Take usual steps to stay cool such as drinking water or finding shade. Cool down by visiting a public City facility during operating hours such as the mall, recreation and activity centres, libraries, Museums or City Hall.

Extreme Heat Emergency: Heat Warning criteria have been met and forecast indicates that daily highs will substantively increase day-over-day for three or more consecutive days. 

What should I do? 

• Activate your emergency heat plan.
• Cooling Centres will open, use these dedicated spaces to help cool down
  • Downtown Library – 1380 Ellis Street
  • Capital News Centre – 4105 Gordon Drive 
  • Parkinson Recreation Centre – 1800 Parkinson Way 
  • Rutland Family YMCA – 375 Hartman Rd
• Take a cool shower or bath, or fill a bucket with cold water to soak your feet in.
• Shut all doors and windows, and pull curtains to keep the sun out. 
• Open windows in the evening if the temperatures cool down. 
• Consider setting up fans in front of ice trays if air conditioning is not available in your home. 

Part of having an emergency plan includes checking in on those who may not have access to air conditioning, or those who may be more susceptible to heat. This can include friends, family and neighbours. According to Prepared BC, the following people are especially at-risk if they do not have access to air conditioning and need to be prepared and supported: 

• people aged 65 years or older 
• people who live alone 
• people with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory disease 
• people with mental illness such as schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety 
• people with substance use disorders 
• people who are marginally housed 
• people who work in hot environments 
• people who are pregnant 
• infants and young children 
• people with limited mobility 

Part of good heat preparation plans includes putting a plan in place for pets. Here are some recommendations from the BC SPCA to help your pets through bouts of extreme heat.  

• Pavement: If you regularly jog or bike with your dog, be conscious of when you’re doing it. If it’s a hot day, the pavement can get very hot for your pet’s feet. 
• Exercising: Choose to exercise with your dog earlier in the morning or later in the evening when it’s cooler reducing the chances of your pet getting heatstroke. 
• Outdoor excursions: When hiking, camping, or going to the beach, make sure you bring along a water bowl and water for your pet as well as an umbrella for shade. Use towel to both dry off your pet and to give them an option of a place to lie down that’s not scorching hot. 
• Cool Down: Freeze favourite food or treats, such as Kongs, or ice cubes with chicken broth, or try freezing a variety of toys and treats inside one big ice cube. Investing in a kiddie pool for your pup and fill of cool water for your furry friend to enjoy and play in. 
• Is your pet ok? Ensure your pet is actually having a good time outside in the heat and is able to get out of the sun in a nice shaded area. 
• Pets in cars: If you go out in the car, leave your pet at home rather than in a hot vehicle, where it can take as little as 10 minutes for a pet to suffer irreparable brain damage or even death. 

The BC SPCA has more tips for summer pet safety available here. 

Front line staff work collaboratively with outreach workers to provide water, cool towels, hats, sunscreen, tents, shade devices throughout the city to help support those sheltering outdoors. In addition to these essentials, outreach teams are providing education about heat safety, drinking water locations, and cooling opportunities.  

The City is also supporting cooling stations with outdoor misting to help cool down near the Bennett Clock by the washrooms at Queensway and various locations downtown.  

In addition to air-conditioned public spaces and shaded outdoor spaces, Metro Community Drop-In is where individuals can access water, shade, food, and peer-led supports. The drop-in site is open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is located at 1262 St. Paul Street.

In the event of an Extreme Heat Emergency, Cooling Centres will be open to everyone, with access to seating, drinking water, washrooms, Wi-Fi and electrical outlets.  

Air quality during a Heat Warning / Extreme Heat Emergency may be affected by high concentrations of ozone or particulate matter, especially if there are wildfires burning nearby. Heat and air pollution affect your body in different ways, and some people are susceptible to the effects of both. The ECCC Heat Alert & Response System recommends that cooler, cleaner indoor air is the best way to protect yourself from heat and air pollution. Since heat poses a bigger risk than smoke for most people, they recommend to prioritize staying cool. 

Use the Prepared BC Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide for tips and resources.