Unseasonably warm weather over the weekend broke multiple records across the region and made for a perfect middle weekend to spring break. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

suns out

Spring break scorcher sets multiple temperature records across Nanaimo & Oceanside

Mar 18, 2024 | 10:39 AM

NANAIMO — A strong ridge of high pressure has proven to be a record-breaker for mid-March weather.

A trio of high-temperature records fell over the weekend, beginning on Friday, March 15 with Environment Canada’s monitoring station reporting a daily maximum of 14.7 degrees Celsius at the Nanaimo airport.

It narrowly pipped a 1958 record of 14.5 for the day.

Similar records were set on both Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17 with the mercury topping 19.1 and 19.0 degrees respectively.

Saturday’s high beat a 1972 record of 18.3 degrees while Sunday saw a 1983 record smashed by 3.3 degrees.

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The weather monitoring station at Qualicum Beach Airport also set records for all three days, with temperatures topping out at 14.3, 17.3 and 18.5 degrees respectively.

More records could also be in jeopardy to start the week.

Monday, March 18’s high mark at Nanaimo Airport is 16.0 degrees, set back in 1981. Forecasts call for a high of 18 degrees.

The forecasted high of 17 degrees on Tuesday, March 17 is also set to threaten a 1947 mark of 17.8 degrees.

Balmy weather across much of B.C. helped set dozens of new temperature records across the province 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 broke its 124-year-old record of 22.8 set in 1900 with temperatures reaching 23.3 degrees on Saturday.

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

Sunday was similarly sweltering in some area.

Dawson Creek broke a 1930 mark by over eight degrees, Fort St. John did similar and erased a 1910 record with a high of 19.7 degrees.

Merritt was one of the hottest place in B.C. on Sunday, with a maximum high of 23.2 degrees.

On Vancouver Island, Port Alberni recorded 20.9 degrees, beating a 1930 record by two degrees.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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