B.C., Alberta quickly spring into record warmth, even hotter values ahead
Since Canada just experienced its warmest winter on record, it should come as no surprise that parts of the country are getting a head start on spring, even reaching early-summer-like weather in the last few days.
A number of daily records were broken in B.C. and Alberta on Saturday, all thanks to a strong ridge of high pressure, which won't be holding in place for much longer as the week progresses.
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For B.C., temperatures have been more reflective of late spring and even early summer over the past several days. That trend is timed nicely to coincide with the provincial's March break about to begin. On Saturday, several records for March 16 were set including in Hope (23.6°C), Squamish (23.0°C), Bella Coola (21.1°C), Port Alberni (20.7°C), Quesnel (20.5°C) and Victoria (18.8°C).
Some of these records had stood for decades before Saturday. A notable example of that is Agassiz, B.C., which reached 23.3°C on March 16, finally topping its previously daily record of 22.8°C –– established in 1900.
Moving to B.C.'s neighbours, the warmth has been just as widespread, but not quite as high of daytime highs. However, what's more remarkable is how much above normal some of these values are for this time of the year.
On Saturday, Edmonton airport hit 10.9°C, surpassing its previous March 16 daytime record of 8.8°C that was set in 1981. Elsewhere, Jasper hit a balmy 18.4°C, just nudging by its previous record of 18.3°C from 1947 –– not an easy task for March since its a higher-elevated community.
As well, Banff rose to 15.3°C, topping its March 16 record (13.9°C) that was established in 1947.
On Sunday, Edmonton and Calgary have a good chance of hitting 16°C and 17°C on Sunday, respectively, unusually mild daytime highs for this time of the year. In fact, Edmonton airport could be on the verge of setting a record for the warmest temperature this early in the year.
Records will be challenged in many other areas on Monday, as well.
What's also notable about these extreme temperatures is that the highs aren’t just confined to lower elevations. Jasper is forecast to exceed 18°C on Sunday once again, some of the earliest warmth recorded in the upper teens.
When you look at Grande Prairie, meanwhile, it has a forecast high of 22°C, an approximate and astonishing 20 degrees above average for this time of year.
The warmth won't be sticking around for much longer, however, as the country undergoes a pattern change for the beginning of spring.
Alberta will quickly be sucked back into winter weather with a dramatic cooldown and some substantial snow late week. Cooler conditions will also span B.C. by the end of next week, with a return to unsettled weather and more alpine snow.
With files from Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images/Lisa Marie/1144198606-170667a.
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