93-year-old temperature records broken in B.C.

Unseasonably warm weather across B.C. led to more than three dozen temperature records falling across the province Monday.

According to preliminary data from Environment and Climate Change Canada, 35 areas broke or tied their previous daily maximum temperature record for Jan. 29. Additionally, nine areas broke their previous record for highest daily minimum temperature for that same day.

Some of the records that fell were more than 90 years old. Cranbrook's 1931 record high for Jan. 29 was 10.6 C. But on Monday, it warmed up to 10.8 C. On Vancouver Island, Esquimalt's 1931 record of 13.3 C was broken when the mercury rose to 15.3 C.

The Lower Mainland also saw several records broken. In Vancouver it got as warm as 14.3 C, beating out the previous 1940 record of 13.3 C. Richmond, which had the same 1940 record, was even warmer Monday, hitting 14.4 C.

The weather agency explained the warm weather is due to "a very mild airmass" in the province. Mild, rainy weather is predicted to remain in Metro Vancouver through the rest of the week. Wednesday is expected to be the warmest day, with a high of 14 C in Vancouver. Environment Canada's forecast shows it's expected to get cooler – but sunnier – by the weekend, with highs of 8 C.

Other maximum temperature records broken or tied on Monday, according to Environment Canada's preliminary data, include:

• Abbotsford area – new record of 18.2 C, old record of 15.6 C set in 1960
• Bella Bella area – new record of 13.3 C, old record of 13 C set in 1998
• Cache Creek area – tied its 1989 record of 14 C
• Clinton area – new record of 10.3 C, old record of 6.8 C set in 2012
• Comox area – new record of 13.3 C, old record of 12 C set in 2018
• Courtenay area – new record of 13.3 C, old record of 12 C set in 2018
• Dawson Creek area – new record of 15.1 C, old record of 13.3 C set in 1934
• Dease Lake area – new record of 8.7 C, old record of 5 C set in 2022
• Fort Nelson area – new record of 13.5 C, old record of 6 C set in 2007
• Fort St. John area – new record of 12.8 C, old record of 10.5 C set in 1993
• Gibsons area – new record of 16.2 C, old record of 10.5 C set in 1993
• Gonzales Point area – new record of 15.3 C, old record of 13.3 C set in 1931
• Kamloops area – new record of 11.8 C, old record of 11 set in 1988
• Mackenzie area – new record of 9.3 C, old record of 5.1 C set in 2009
• Malahat area – new record of 14.2 C, old record of 12.6 C set in 1992
• Merritt area – new record of 12.7 C, old record of 12 C set in 1989
• Osoyoos area – new record of 12.4 C, old record of 11.7 C set in 1974
• Penticton area – new record of 12.8 C, old record of 11.1 C set n 1974
• Port Hardy area – new record of 13.3 C, old record of 12 set in 1998
• Powell River area – new record of 12.8 C, old record of 12.2 C set in 1931
• Prince Rupert area – new record of 12.6 C, old record of 12.2 C set in 1935
• Puntzi Mountain area – new record of 10.6 C, old record of 10 C set in 2009
• Sechelt area – new record of 16.2 C, old record of 11 C set in 1995
• Sparwood area – new record of 10 C, old record of 7.2 C set in 1976
• Summerland area – new record of 12 C, old record of 11.1 C set in 1953
• Terrace area – new record of 9.5 C, old record of 7.5 C, set in 1993
• Victoria area – tied its 1995 record of 13.1 C
• Victoria Harbour, Hartland and university areas – new record of 15.3 C, old record of 13.3 C set in 1931
• West Vancouver area – new record of 17.3 C, old record of 14 C set in 1998

New records for the highest minimum daily temperature include:

• Abbotsford area – new record of 8.4 C, old record of 7.2 C set in 1976
• Agassiz area – new record of 8.9 C, old record of 7.2 C set in 1940
• Bella Bella area – new record of 10.7 C, old record of 7 C set in 1998
• Campbell River area – new record of 9.6 C, old record of 6.5 C set in 1995
• Comox area – new record of 9.7 C, old record of 7.7 C set in 1998
• Pitt Meadows area – new record of 10.3 C, old record of 7.2 C set in 1935
• Prince Rupert area – new record of 9.7 C, old record of 7.2 C set in 1940
• Vancouver area – new record of 11.7 C, old record of 7.4 C set in 1992
• Victoria Hartland area – new record of 10 C, old record of 8.5 C set in 1998