At 49.5 degree Celsius, Canada sizzles under heat wave

The heatwave in Canada reached a new high on Tuesday as the country recorded a record-breaking temperature in the town of Lytton in British Columbia, according to the country’s weather service. 

US Pacific Northwest has been experiencing high temperatures for the past three days.

Environment and Climate Change Canada announced the record-breaking temperatures on Twitter. The organisation wrote, “At 4:20 pm, Lytton Climate Station reported 49.5°C, once again, breaking the daily and all-time temperature records for the 3rd straight day.” 

At least 69 people have been reported dead in Vancouver due to the heatwave, reported AFP quoting Canadian police.

Most of those who succumbed to the increased temperatures had underlying conditions and belonged to the elderly age group, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A substantial number of these deaths were reported in Burnaby and Surrey.

Climate change is causing record-setting temperatures to become more frequent. Globally, the decade to 2019 was the hottest recorded, and the five hottest years have all occurred within the last five years.

The heatwave, which has impacted the North American continent severely, stretches from Oregon to Canada’s Arctic and is being pinned onto a high-pressure ridge responsible for trapping warm air in the region.