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Temperature record from 1895 among 59 broken at peak of B.C. heat wave

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VANCOUVER -

Another 59 temperature records were broken on what was the pinnacle of the B.C. heat wave in most places, according to preliminary data.

Many of the daily records shattered Monday, when highs crawled into the 40s in much of the province, only date back to 2015 or 2008, but some were much, much older.

In Agassiz, it was the hottest June 28 ever, breaking a record set in 1895.

On that day 126 years ago, the high in the Fraser Valley community was 33.3 C, a record obliterated by Monday's high of 41.4, according to Environment Canada.

Agassiz saw the oldest record fall, followed by Quesnel's record set in 1896, but it was not the hottest place in the province.

That was the Interior community of Lytton, which for a second day in a row was the hottest spot in all of Canada.

And not just for the day. The temperatures recorded in Lytton on Sunday and Monday (46.6, then 47.9) were the highest ever recorded in Canada

The blistering heat also topped the record for the hottest temperature ever registered in Las Vegas, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.

Including Lytton and Agassiz, data from Environment Canada suggests a total of 59 weather stations saw record-breaking temperatures.

Here's the full list:

  • Abbotsford area - New record of 42.9, Old record of 32.4 set in 2008
  • Agassiz area - New record of 41.4, Old record of 33.3 set in 1895
  • Bella Bella area - New record of 35.8, Old record of 29.6 set in 2015
  • Bella Coola area (Bella Coola Airport) - New record of 36.9, Old record of 33.2 set in 2015
  • Blue River area - New record of 38.7, Old record of 35.9 set in 2015
  • Burns Lake area (Burns Lake Decker Lake) - New record of 37.2, Old record of 30.7 set in 2015
  • Cache Creek area (Ashcroft) - New record of 46.4, Old record of 40.6 set in 2015
  • Clearwater area - New record of 43.7, Old record of 38.3 set in 2015
  • Clinton area - New record of 39.5, Old record of 32.8 set in 2015
  • Comox area - New record of 36.8, Old record of 31.2 set in 2015
  • Courtenay area - New record of 36.8, Old record of 31.2 set in 2015
  • Cranbrook area - New record of 38.4, Old record of 36.8 set in 2015
  • Dawson Creek area - New record of 38.1, Old record of 27.8 set in 2015
  • Dease Lake area - New record of 32.2, Old record of 29.5 set in 1992
  • Esquimalt area (Victoria Gonzales CS)- New record of 39.8, Old record of 30.5 set in 1995
  • Estevan Point area - New record of 30.5, Old record of 24.0 set in 1995
  • Fort Nelson area (Fort Nelson) - New record of 34.4, Old record of 30.2 set in 1982
  • Fort St. John area - New record of 36.3, Old record of 27.9 set in 2015
  • Gibsons area - New record of 40.8, Old record of 29.6 set in 2008
  • Golden area (Golden Airport) - New record of 37.3, Old record of 36.0 set in 2015
  • Gonzales Point area (Victoria Gonzales CS) - New record of 39.8, Old record of 30.5 set in 1995
  • Kamloops area - New record of 45.8, Old record of 39.1 set in 2015
  • Kelowna area (Kelowna UBCO) - New record of 42.9, Old record of 39.5 set in 2015
  • Lillooet area - New record of 45.6, Old record of 39.3 set in 2015
  • Lytton area - New record of 47.9, Old record of 39.6 set in 2015
  • Mackenzie area (Mackenzie Airport Auto) - New record of 38.6, Old record of 29.8 set in 2015
  • Malahat area - New record of 41.3, Old record of 32.4 set in 1995
  • Merritt area - New record of 43.2, Old record of 39.2 set in 2015
  • Nakusp area - New record of 38.1, Old record of 37.3 set in 2015
  • Nelson area - New record of 38.4, Old record of 37.2 set in 2015
  • Osoyoos area - New record of 42.7, Old record of 37.7 set in 2000
  • Pemberton area (Pemberton Airport) - New record of 43.2, Old record of 37.2 set in 2015
  • Penticton area- New record of 42.5, Old record of 36.4 set in 2015
  • Pitt Meadows area - New record of 41.4, Old record of 33.0 set in 1987
  • Port Alberni area - New record of 42.7, Old record of 36.5 set in 2015
  • Powell River area - New record of 38.4, Old record of 30.6 set in 1951
  • Prince George area (Prince George Airport Auto) - New record of 38.4, Old record of 30.0 set in 1938
  • Prince Rupert area - New record of 27.6, Old record of 22.7 set in 2015
  • Princeton area - New record of 42.7, Old record of 38.0 set in 2015
  • Puntzi Mountain area - New record of 39.2, Old record of 32.9 set in 2015
  • Quesnel area (Quesnel Airport Auto) - New record of 41.1, Old record of 34.4 set in 1896
  • Salmon Arm area - New record of 38.8, Old record of 37.3 set in 2015
  • Sandspit area (Sandspit Airport Auto) - New record of 27.1, Old record of 21.7 set in 1951
  • Sechelt area - New record of 40.8, Old record of 29.6 set in 2008
  • Smithers area (Smithers Airport Auto) - New record of 37.0, Old record of 29.3 set in 1987
  • Squamish area (Squamish Airport) - New record of 43.0, Old record of 34.3 set in 2015
  • Summerland area - New record of 40.3, Old record of 36.1 set in 2015
  • Tatlayoko Lake area - New record of 37.8, Old record of 33.3 set in 2015
  • Terrace area - New record of 35.5, Old record of 30.9 set in 2015
  • Trail area (Warfield RCS) - New record of 42.5, Old record of 41.1 set in 2015
  • Vancouver area (Vancouver International Airport) - New record of 31.7, Old record of 27.5 set in 1995
  • Victoria area (Victoria International Airport) - New record of 39.4, Old record of 30.5 set in 1995
  • Victoria Harbour area - New record of 39.8, Old record of 30.5 set in 1995
  • Victoria (Hartland) area - New record of 39.8, Old record of 30.5 set in 1995
  • Victoria (University of) area - New record of 39.8, Old record of 30.5 set in 1995
  • Whistler area (Whistler - Nesters)- New record of 41.2, Old record of 35.6 set in 2015
  • White Rock area - New record of 38.5, Old record of 29.0 set in 2008
  • Williams Lake area - New record of 38.6, Old record of 31.6 set in 2015
  • Yoho (National Park) area (Yoho Park) - New record of 34.9, Old record of 31.3 set in 2015

While the temperatures in much of B.C. are expected to dip closer to seasonal norms over the rest of week, heat warnings remained in place across most of the province Tuesday. 

In Metro Vancouver, highs Tuesday were expected to reach between 30 and 35, areas further inland, including in B.C.'s Interior, may still see highs close to 50.

With the humidex, it may feel even warmer. Residents are also reminded the UV index is at nine, or very high.

The sudden spike in temperature was brought on by a ridge of high pressure expected to remain in place over the next few days.

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