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Penticton  

Hot Weekend Coming

It's going to be a hot one.

Environment Canada is predicting temperatures around 40 degrees in the South Okanagan this weekend. But not everyone is eagerly awaiting the sunny days.

President of the B.C. Fruit Growers Association Joe Sardimha says the extreme heat could have a negative effect on crops.

“It could cause some fruit to ripen too quickly and we are expecting some sunburning of cherries and apples,” says Sardimha.

He says one way farmers try to beat the heat is by using over-head cooling.

“Every hour in daylight during such high temperatures, each zone in a field gets five minutes of over-head irrigation. As the water evaporates, it lowers the surface temperature of the fruit,” says Sardimha.

He says that farmers will be picking fruit at different times of day to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

Other agencies are concerned about the effect of the heat.

Tracey Westmoreland of the Penticton SPCA says animals are just as susceptible to heat stroke as humans and some effort should be made by pet owners to keep their furry friends safe in the heat.

“The most important thing is to not take your dog or cat anywhere in your car unless you have to. Leave them at home when you go to do errands, home is the coolest place for them, even if you don't have air conditioning,” says Westmoreland.

She says that all pets should have access to plenty of cool water and dog walking should only be done during certain times of day.

“During the middle of the day the sidewalks can get hot enough to burn the pads of your dog's feet, so longer walks should only be done in the early morning or evening,” says Westmoreland.


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