Almost 40 new daily temperature records broken across B.C.
Posted March 17, 2024 9:38 am.
Last Updated March 17, 2024 5:22 pm.
Amid an unseasonably warm week, almost 40 new daily temperature records were broken across British Columbia as of Saturday, March 16, according to Environment Canada.
A ridge of high pressure is bringing a warm air mass to the province, Environment Canada says.
A 124-year-old record was broken in Agassiz, which saw a new high of 23.3°C, surpassing the previous record of 22.8°C set in 1900.
The highest record broken was in Squamish with a 6°C increase. The old record of 17°C in 1983 was broken with a new record of 23°C.
Coming in second, Bella Bella saw a 5.5°C jump since 1988 — from 15.2°C to 20.7°C.
Pemberton came in third with a 5.4°C increase since 1988 — from 15°C to 20.4°C.
In Northern B.C., Mackenzie saw a notable jump — a 5.1°C increase since 1972 — from 10°C to 15.1°C.
Below is a list of some other temperature records broken in B.C. on Saturday:
- Abbotsford: new record of 22.6°C, old record of 22.2°C set in 1947
- Kelowna: new record of 17°C, old record of 16.7°C set in 1940
- Lytton: new record of 20.6°C, old record of 20.5°C set in 1985
- Victoria: new record of 19°C, old record of 18.3°C set in 1983
- West Vancouver: new record of 18.7°C, old record of 15.5°C set in 1983
- Whistler: new record of 19.5°C, old record of 19.0°C set in 2010
Temperatures are expected to remain above normal into Tuesday before more typical March weather kicks in — including rain in the second half of the week.
