For the most part, playgrounds across Kamloops were empty today – and they’re expected to be empty tomorrow as well – because of the ongoing heatwave with a number of school officials keeping kids inside their air conditioned classrooms for their own safety.

Kamloops-Thompson School District Superintendent Terry Sullivan says with the exception of the un-air conditioned school at Sun Peaks – SD73 schools will remain open tomorrow for the last day of the school year – but teachers are asked to closely monitor students for signs of heat stress.

“We’re looking at that very closely and making sure that children are hydrated and there’s water and so on. And yes – looking at the temperatures and whether or not we would be allowing children to be outside,” he said, on the NL Noon Report.

School bus service has been suspended as Sullivan says some of the routes are quite long and the buses don’t have air conditioning.

Further, he notes SD73 maintenance crews are standing by in case of system failures – as systems at a number of office buildings across Kamloops failed this afternoon.

“There will be some places where their services are going to be required to make sure everything is working properly but we have that in place and we’re gonna monitor it,” Sullivan added. “We’re going to do our very best to make sure that our air conditioning systems are working and we keep the temperatures to a reasonable amount.”

As for recess – Sullivan says some schools may still proceed – but it will be earlier in the morning.

“You know its a little cooler in the mornings though we have to monitor it as the day goes on but principles and teachers are very aware of that and as I said keeping children hydrated as well during the heat,” Sullivan added.

Temperatures in the Kamloops area are expected to spike into the mid-to-high 40’s until at least Wednesday before we see some relief by the end of this week.

(Photo via @sarah_sandholm on twitter)