Heat warnings have been in place for most of the province for days and temperatures of up to 40C have been recorded. Environment Canada is blaming the heat on a strong ridge of high pressure and has issued daily warnings about symptoms of heat-related illness. The hot weather stuck around for quite some time, but those ready for a break may be looking forward to hearing that the heat wave will be over soon. According to federal forecasters, the weather pattern causing the heat will change early next week, with an upper trough bringing a cooler air mass over the province. In Vancouver, that means a temperature drop of about 10 degrees. The city has seen highs in the low 30s most days this week and is expected to sweat a few more days before the cooler air mass moves in. Environment Canada’s forecast on Friday suggests daytime highs of 20 to 21 C on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with a chance of rain at least part of the time. If the forecast is correct, the rain and cooler weather won’t continue until Monday night, meaning it will remain warm and sunny all weekend. Kelowna, too, can expect a dip of 10 degrees or more. The forecast suggests weekend temperatures of 35 to 37 degrees, before the humidex is factored in, but on Tuesday, the predicted high is just 24. In Lytton, a village that broke a Canada-wide record last July for the hottest temperature ever recorded, the difference between the weekend’s weather and the week’s weather is expected to be even more stark. Environment Canada is forecasting weekend highs between 35 and 40, but by Tuesday, it should be 18 degrees cooler. Vancouver Islanders may see a less dramatic transition to colder weather. The forecast high on Sunday is 26 degrees Celsius, Monday 23 and Tuesday 21.