Snow is disappearing fast from lower elevations as above normal temperatures are expected to continue in Kamloops and the Okanagan into next week. People take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather for a walk along Okanagan Lake in Penticton, Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
March 20, 2019 - 11:08 AM
PENTICTON - A massive ridge of high pressure over Western Canada has resulted in record-breaking temperatures in B.C this week.
Environment Canada meteorologist Carmen Hart says 42 high temperature records were broken in B.C. yesterday, 13 in the Yukon and five in the Northwest Territories.
Yesterday's records in B.C. include a temperature of 20 C in Victoria harbour that shattered the old mark of 16.7 C, set in 1878. The Canadian hot spot was Tofino on Vancouver Island where the mercury hit 24.5 C, smashing the previous high set in 1928 by 5.1 degrees.
The weather station at Yohin, Northwest Territory recorded a high of 21.8 Celsius yesterday, which was warmer than Miami, Florida’s high temperature of 21.1 C.
No records have been broken in Kamloops or the Okanagan yet, but that may change today, March 20, with the official arrival of spring at 2:58 p.m.
Forecast highs are expected to come within a degree or two of the record high temperature for Kelowna, which was set at 16.2 in 1988. Penticton is expected to reach a high of 16 C today, close to the record high for that city at 17.8 C.
While Kamloops likely won't break a high temperature record today, it will be warmer than the Okanagan over the next few days with sunny skies predicted through Friday. The high today in Kamloops is forecast to be 19 C.
Hart expects the unseasonable warmth to continue until a small disturbance passes through Kamloops and the Okanagan on Friday night through Saturday, bringing clouds and the possibility of rain. The sunshine and warm temperatures are expected to return on Sunday and continue into next week.
— With files from the Canadian Press
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