Tuesday’s heat was a record-setter.
The mercury climbed to 32.9 C at the airport and it was even hotter at Environment Canada’s Massey Drive weather station when it hit 34 C at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
That beat the 98-year-old former record of 32.2 C for the city, set in 1926.
The heat that prompted warnings across the province resulted in 37 high temperature records being set.
Quesnel baked to a record 37.2 C, topping the old record of 35.6 C set in 1920, while Mackenzie hit 34.5 C, smashing the former mark of 32,.7 C set in 2023.
Lytton was the hot spot in Canada, 42.5 C, eclipsing the 40.6 C measurement set in 1975.
Other record-breaking Tuesday highs, with former records in parenthesis, were:
Smithers 32.2 C (30.6 C in 1975), Fort Nelson 33.4 C (31.6 C in 2023), Fort St. John 33.4 C (31.6 C in 2023), Dawson Creek 36.2 C (33.4 C in 2023), Williams Lake 35.1 C (31,7 C in 1975), Kamloops 40.6 C (38.6 in 2015), Vernon 38.4 C (36.7 C in 1905), Penticton 38.3 C (37.2 C in 1975), Creston 36.9 C (36.2 C in 2015), West Vancouver 30.8 C (30.5 C in 1985), Pitt Meadows 34.2 C (33.3 in 1875).
The highs are expected to be three or four degrees cooler today for many B.C. locations.
We are heading for a high of 29 C in Prince George with a 30 per cent chance of thundershowers developing late this afternoon into the evening. Winds of 30 kilometres per hour are expected to gust to 50 km/hr tonight.
The rest of the week is looking just about perfect for summer weather in the city with nothing but sunshine Thursday-Sunday and highs ranging from 24-26 C and lows of 10-13 C
That will continue into next week with Monday’s high predicted to reach 29 C and 28 C on Tuesday, under a mix of sun and cloud.
The normal high for this time of year is 21.9 C and the average low is 8.7 C.
The first extended heat wave of the summer resulted in a province-wide ban on campfires which takes effect on Friday.
BC Wildfire Service is dealing with two out-of-control fires, including the Little Oliver Creek 45 kilometres northeast of Terrace. That fire was discovered Monday afternoon and has grown to 130 hectares. It is visible from Highway 16.
The other fire is near the B.C.-Yukon border at Hook Creek, close to the Alaska Highway,, which is listed at 240 ha.
If you see smoke in the forest, spot a fire or see someone violating BC Wildfire regulations call 1-800-663-5555, or on your cell phone dial *5555.
