Record-busting November temperatures set along southern B.C. coast
Warm winds pushed several cities to set monthly temperature records on Saturday
Warm winds blowing ashore with an atmospheric river pushed temperatures to all-time levels for several communities along the southern coast of British Columbia coast this weekend.
It takes a formidable system to near or exceed monthly temperature records, but the rainy system washing over B.C. this weekend managed to achieve the feat in several spots.
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A mild flow siphoning subtropical air from down near Hawaii helped push temperatures close to 20 degrees across portions of B.C. on Saturday.
These unseasonable winds were associated with an atmospheric river that pushed heavy rain into the West Coast, causing significant flooding in Washington state while gauges on our side of the border saw more than 100 mm in spots.
Atmospheric rivers like this are often associated with freezing level spikes and flooding events.
Saturday’s warm winds were no joke. North Cowichan took the prize for the nation’s hot-spot on Saturday, where temperatures climbed up to 18.9°C. For some perspective, seasonal temperatures this time of year hover around 10°C.
Numerous daily temperature records were set across the province, including in Comox, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Powell River, and White Rock.
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The monthly temperature records were much more significant, with the Comox area recording a temperature of 17.9°C, making that the community’s warmest temperature ever recorded in November.
Although YVR Airport didn’t set a daily record, the airport recorded its third-warmest November temperature on record, spiking up to 18 degrees on gusty easterly winds. The airport’s warmest November temperature remains a 19.4°C reading on November 8, 2016.
Victoria Airport measured its second-warmest November temperature on record with a reading of 18.2°C on Saturday. This fell just short of the month’s all-time warmest reading of 18.3°C back on November 3, 1975.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across British Columbia.
