Dozens of temperature records shattered across B.C. Saturday

Balmy weather across much of British Columbia helped set dozens of new temperature records across the province on Saturday.

Environment Canada says a ridge of high pressure brought warm temperatures to the province this weekend, with above-normal conditions forecast to continue into this week.

Several regions of the province saw temperatures climb past 20 C over the weekend.

The weather office reported 38 communities logged their hottest March 16 on record, while the Nakusp area tied the record set in 1994.

Agassiz, B.C., broke its 124 year old record of 22.8 C set in 1900 with temperatures that reached 23.3 C on Saturday.

Other locations that broke records with temperatures that reached at least 20 C included Abbotsford, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Hope, Lytton, Merritt, Pemberton, Pitt Meadows, Princeton and Squamish.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2024.