British Columbia

122 high-temperature records broken in B.C. this week

There were 48 high temperature records set in B.C. on the first day of spring, bringing the total to 122 broken records this week.

48 records broken on the first day of spring alone

Environment Canada forecasts temperatures in the double digits again today. (Tina Lovgreen/CBC)

There might even be a few sunburns in the office today.

British Columbians have been able to top up their Vitamin D as sunshine and record-high temperatures swept across the province this week.

A total of 122 high-temperature records have been broken since Sunday, 48 of them on the first official day of spring, which arrived at 2:58 p.m. Wednesday.

The mercury was highest in Hope and Squamish on Wednesday, where temperatures hit 25.9 C in both communities, Environment Canada reported. 

That was the hottest March 20 ever in Hope, with the previous high of 22.2 C set in 1960, and Squamish, where the previous record was 21 C in 1999.

Agassiz was the next warmest spot in B.C. It was 25.8 C there on Wednesday, beating a 1915 record of 21.7 C.

Enjoy it while you can

Other communities that saw the thermometer rise higher than ever on March 20: Comox, Chetwynd, Fort St. John, Kelowna, Pemberton, Terrace, Tofino, Powell River, Vernon, Victoria, White Rock, Williams Lake and Yoho National Park.

According to Environment Canada meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau, B.C. may have broken a record for the number of records broken, but the weather agency does not have that data available.

Charbonneau says there will be a gradual cooling of temperatures as the week continues, with possible rain on Friday that could linger into Saturday and temperatures dropping down to levels slightly above seasonal.