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Heat records broken across Okanagan

Valley communities hottest places in Canada

The start of December felt more like the middle of June in the Okanagan, as temperatures soared to record highs Wednesday.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, a preliminary new record of 17.8 C was recorded in Kelowna, smashing the previous 13 C high set in 2012.

The mercury climbed to 22.5 C in Penticton, well above the 2012 record of 11.2 C.

Similarly, in Vernon, a 2012 record of 11.2 C was surpassed by Wednesday’s 17.5 C.

These temperatures are vastly higher than the historical daily averages of around 3.5 C.

It all follows a pattern of heat washing over British Columbia in 2021. On June 29, the all-time highest temperature in Canada was recorded in Lytton as a heat dome parked over the province. Almost the entire town burned down the next day.

The Okanagan will return to more seasonal weather in the coming days, as cooler air moves into the valley.

Published 2021-12-02 by Tyler Marr

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