An unseasonable surge of warm air swept across British Columbia on Monday, shattering long-standing daily temperature records in more than two dozen communities. Environment and Climate Change Canada confirmed that 28 distinct regions in B.C. reported record-high temperatures for December 15th, a startling anomaly for mid-December.
Metro Vancouver and Interior See Record Highs
The record-breaking warmth was widespread. In Vancouver, the mercury climbed to 15.7°C, easily surpassing the previous record of 13.3°C set back in 1962. Other Metro Vancouver areas including West Vancouver, White Rock, and Richmond also posted new daily highs.
The heat was even more pronounced in the Interior. Kamloops recorded a high of 18.6°C, smashing its 1962 record of 13.3°C by a significant margin. Pemberton reached 15.8°C, beating its old mark of 7.8°C, while Whistler saw a new high of 10.4°C.
Other communities that broke records included:
- Comox: 16.9°C
- Duncan: 16.4°C
- Qualicum Beach: 16.2°C
- Agassiz: 15.6°C
- Hope: 15.2°C
- Cache Creek: 15.0°C
Atmospheric River Drives Anomalous Warmth
Meteorologist Brian Proctor with Environment and Climate Change Canada linked the unusual temperatures directly to the same weather pattern that recently drenched the South Coast with heavy rain. "It’s all part of the atmospheric river phenomenon," Proctor explained. "This atmospheric river brought up a lot of really warm, really moist air up into the inner South Coast of B.C."
He noted that some areas, particularly around Squamish, saw close to 200 millimetres of precipitation from the system, underscoring its potent and moisture-laden nature.
A Return to Seasonal Norms Expected
The uncharacteristic warmth is not expected to last. Proctor forecasts that temperatures should return to near-normal levels by the end of the week. For Vancouver, that means daytime highs around 6°C and overnight lows near 1°C.
There is even a chance of snow flurries at higher elevations over the coming weekend, signaling a swift return to more typical December conditions. Residents are advised to enjoy the brief respite from the cold while preparing for the return of seasonal weather.
For a complete summary of all temperature records broken and detailed rainfall amounts from Monday, the public can visit the Environment Canada website at weather.gc.ca.
