A wave of early-season heat shattered temperature records across British Columbia on Monday as a strong ridge of high pressure pushed temperatures well above seasonal norms. More than a dozen communities set new daily highs for May 4, continuing a broader pattern of spring heat that has already broken numerous records across the province in recent days.
Environment Canada says the following records were set:
- Bella Bella: 28.6ºC — previous record 22.7ºC set in 2013
- Bella Coola: 29.5ºC — previous record 27.8ºC set in 1915
- Campbell River: 29.3ºC — previous record 25.8ºC set in 2013
- Comox: 27.6ºC — previous record 23.5ºC set in 2013
- Duncan: 28.9ºC — previous record 27.8ºC set in 1957
- Kitimat: 27.2ºC — previous record 23.9ºC set in 2024
- Lillooet: 31.2ºC — previous record 30.1ºC set in 1998
- Nanaimo: 29.1ºC — previous record 26.4ºC set in 1980
- Pemberton: 31.5ºC — previous record 30.6ºC set in 1957
- Pitt Meadows: 28.5ºC — previous record 27.0ºC set in 1992
- Port Alberni: 30.6ºC — previous record 29.4ºC set in 1915
- Port Hardy: 23.5ºC — previous record 22.4ºC set in 1980
- Powell River: 27.1ºC — previous record 25.0ºC set in 1992
- Qualicum Beach: 28.9ºC — previous record 23.5ºC set in 2013
- Richmond: 25.9ºC — previous record 22.2ºC set in 1898
- Sechelt: 28.3ºC — previous record 23.6ºC set in 2017
- Squamish: 30.9ºC — previous record 26.4ºC set in 2017
- Vancouver: 23.9ºC — previous record 22.2ºC set in 1898
- West Vancouver: 25.8ºC — previous record 25.5ºC set in 1992
Some of the records date back more than a century, including marks in Richmond and Vancouver first set in 1898, back when the entire province's population was under 200,000.
Environment Canada notes the figures are preliminary and based on a selection of historical stations in each area.
