February continues to be much warmer than normal across the mid-Island, with multiple temperature records broken this week. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW

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February heat wave breaks Nanaimo temperature record

Feb 6, 2026 | 9:26 AM

NANAIMO — More temperature records have fallen as a rare February heat wave persists.

One day after Qualicum Beach broke a 15-year-old record, the Harbour City set a new high mark for the hottest Feb. 5 on record, with the monitoring station at Nanaimo Airport reaching 13 degrees Celsius, eclipsing a 2015 mark of 12.4 degrees.

Records have been kept in Nanaimo since 1892.

Numerous other Island and coastal communities set new marks including Campbell River, which shattered another 2015 record by 2.5 degrees when the mercury reached 14.7 degrees.

Duncan’s 14.1 degrees on Thursday broke a record which had stood since 1934, while Victoria reached 13.9 degrees and eased past the record of 12.6 degrees from 1987.

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The heat extended well beyond Vancouver Island.

Squamish reached 15.1 degrees, Bella Bella got to 14.2 degrees, and Agassiz reached 16.1.

The hotspot in B.C. on Thursday was Abbotsford, reaching 16.4 degrees and beating the old record of 15.1 degrees set back in 1984.

Environment Canada states all temperature records noted are derived from “a selection of historical stations in each geographic area” and data from Thursday is preliminary and may be adjusted in a final report.

The warmth is set to break over the weekend, with conditions next week more seasonal for mid-February.

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