Heat records tumble across B.C. after sweltering start to June

Temperature records fell across more than a dozen areas of British Columbia on Wednesday, including several records that had gone unchallenged for more than 60 years.

Communities from the Kootenays to Vancouver Island saw temperatures soar well over 30 C as a humid, sticky hot spell took hold, according to Environment Canada. The Okanagan was especially hot across the board.

Preliminary readings noted Trail, B.C., as the provincial hotspot at 36.5 C, while Kelowna and Osoyoos tied for second place at 36.2 C each.

That meant Trail broke a temperature record for June 2 that had been in place since 1937. Kelowna's record had been in place since 2007 and the Osoyoos record had held since 1954.

Pemberton broke the oldest daily record. The previous benchmark was on the board for 99 years.

The full list of preliminary records broken for June 2 is as follows:

• Cranbrook: 32.6 C
• Creston: 34.8 C
• Golden: 31.2 C
• Kamloops: 36.0 C
• Kelowna: 36.2 C
• Malahat: 28.6 C
• Nakusp: 32.2 C
• Osoyoos: 36.2 C
• Pemberton: 33.5 C
• Penticton: 35.3 C
• Princeton: 33.4 C
• Summerland: 33.9 C
• Trail: 36.5 C
• Vernon: 35.6 C
• Yoho National Park: 27.1 C

Temperatures at YVR hit 28 C around 5 p.m. PT, breaking a record from the 1970s.

After a toasty start to the month, a cooler front will begin tracking across the province on Thursday. Showers are possible in the Central Interior and Vancouver Island, as well as in Metro Vancouver.

Temperatures will likely drop by five to eight degrees, according to CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe. Much of the cool-down will begin over the weekend.

The slight chill will be welcome in parts of the province, with the risk of wildfire ranging from moderate to extreme across much of the Interior.