April in Vancouver hottest on record
Lien Yeung | CBC News | Posted: May 3, 2016 9:39 PM | Last Updated: May 3, 2016
This April set the highest average temperature for the month since records began in 1937
It probably comes as no surprise to those who basked in the mild weather all month, but April in Vancouver was the hottest on record since 1937 — when record-keeping began.
The average temperature for this past month was 11.8 C, with a peak of 24.4 C, according to Environment Canada. Normally the Vancouver average temperature in April is 9.4 C.
This April was also the driest in the city since 2004.
On average, Vancouver receives 88.1 millimetres of rain during the month of April, but this year, that number was only 24.2 millimetres.
These conditions weren't isolated to just the South Coast.
"The northern half of the province, we've seen drier than normal conditions for this time of year. At times it's been warmer than average as well," said fire information officer Ryan Turcot with the B.C. Wildfire Service.
It's led to an early start to the wildfire season, with the first flames being fought as early as March.
"It's not entirely unprecedented for fires to start this early, but it's certainly not the norm either," said Turcot.
Temperatures across the province are forecast to cool slightly over the next several days with a frontal wave ushering in the possibility of showers.
The clash of weather systems kicked off with a loud clap of thunder Monday night that had many Lower Mainland residents looking up.
With files from Johanna Wagstaffe and Farrah Merali.