B.C.'s extended summer breaks more records but rain is finally on the way, weather office says

Several cities in British Columbia boasted the warmest temperatures in the country on the weekend as summer-likeweatherpersists across most of the provincebut Environment Canada says a change is coming.

Daily maximum temperature records were set in 25B.C.communities on Sunday, including in Port Alberni, the provincial hot spot at 26.3 C, where a 115-year-old record was shattered by 3 C.

Theweatheroffice says other records for the day were set along the south, central and north coasts, and through the central Interior and southeasternB.C.

Many regions of the province have had no rain in October and no significant precipitation since early July, prompting severe drought conditions, but forecasters say many areas could get showersby Fridayand the Fort Nelsonarea could possibly seeflurries of snow.

Areas expected to get rain Friday include the South Coast, where the air could be cleansed of the wildfire smoke that's prompted air quality advisories across Vancouver Island, Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, as well as the Peace and Similkameen regions.

Wildfires in southernB.C.and Washington state, as well as a large blaze in northeasternB.C.that has been burning since the end of August, are blamed for causing the murky skies.

Michael Brauer, a professor with UBC'sschool of population and public health, said he's concerned about the health impacts of longer wildfire, and therefore wildfire smoke, seasons.

"What's happening now as a result of climate change is that the wildfire smoke period is lengthening, could extendfrom April to October. This is really unprecedented for our region," he said.

Brauer said people may have to consider changing their lifestyles to adapt to poor air quality, including moving vacations to spring or fall, changes in school calendars to keep kids in safe places on smokey days.

He added that even if B.C., does a great job at managing wildfires, the province is affected by neighbouring states.

"This isnot going to get better," he said.