Nearly 2 dozen temperature records broken in B.C. as final atmospheric river brings warm weather
Nearly two dozen temperature records were broken or tied in B.C. on the first day of December as the third in a trio of atmospheric rivers brought unseasonably warm weather to parts of the province.
B.C. has been dealing with chaotic weather this year, from a heat dome in the summer, to a tornado and bomb cyclone earlier this fall. In recent weeks, it's been atmospheric rivers that have hit the province, bringing record-breaking rainfall and devastating floods.
But the other element that comes with atmospheric rivers, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada's warning preparedness meteorologist Armel Castellan, is warmer temperatures.
"An atmospheric river not only brings moisture but it brings heat," he said Wednesday, adding that "many records" were being broken on Dec. 1.
In fact, preliminary data released by Environment Canada Thursday showed 20 records were shattered the day before and one was tied.
Many of the records are decades old and one was set nearly a century ago. Creston saw its hottest Dec. 1 ever on Wednesday, reaching 15.5 C. That's nearly five degrees warmer than the previous record set in 1926 of 10.6.
The highest temperature that broke a record was recorded in Penticton, which got to 22.5 C on Wednesday. That's more than double the previous record for Dec. 1, which was 11.2 C set in 2012.
Other temperature records broken in B.C. according to Environment Canada's preliminary data include:
- Cache Creek area – new record of 15.6, old record of 12.2 set in 1949
- Cranbrook area – new record of 12.8, old record of 9.6 set in 2008
- Gibsons area – new record of 12.2, old record of 12.0 set in 1988
- Kelowna area – new record of 17.8, old record of 13.0 set in 2012
- Malahat area – new record of 10.5, old record of 10.0 set in 1988
- Merritt area – new record of 15.0, old record of 12.8 set in 1941
- Naksup area – new record of 15.0, old record of 11.7 set in 1971
- Nelson area – new record of 13.4, old record of 8.5 set in 1995
- Osoyoos area – new record of 18.1, old record of 12.3 set in 2012
- Pemberton area – new record of 7.9, old record of 7.2 set in 1943
- Pitt Meadows area – new record of 13.4, old record of 13.3 set in 1941
- Princeton area – new record of 15.1, old record of 10.0 set in 2012
- Salmon Arm area – new record of 17.9, old record of 11.4 set in 1995
- Sparwood area – new record of 11.2, old record of 10.2 set in 2008
- Squamish area – new record of 12.5, old record of 12.2 set in 1965
- Summerland area – new record of 207., old record of 11.3 set in 2012
- Trail area – new record of 13.1, old record of 10.7 set in 2012
- Vernon area – new record of 17.5, old record of 11.2 set in 2012
As well, Sechelt tied its record of 12.2 set in 1958 on Wednesday.
In the days ahead, however, temperatures are expected to drop dramatically in some of these areas. In Penticton, for example, it's not expected to get warmer than freezing on Saturday and snow is in the forecast.
Experts have warned climate change will likely lead to more of these extreme weather events and natural disasters, like the recent string of atmospheric rivers.
"We've gone from some extremes to other extremes and unfortunately this is consistent with what climate change has been projecting for all parts of Canada," Castellan said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
A child killer legally changed his name in B.C. The province is trying to stop that from happening again
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.