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
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.