More heat records fall across B.C., including Vancouver's previous high set in 1898

People watch a sea plane take off in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, July 7, 2024. Heat warnings have been put in place for the Metro Vancouver area for elevated temperatures. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

VANCOUVER — Temperature records continue to fall across British Columbia as unseasonably warm weather persists, including in Vancouver where a mark set more than 100 years ago was broken.

Environment Canada says Vancouver’s high temperature on Monday reached just short of 24 degrees, breaking the 22.2 degrees record set in 1898.

The weather forecast agency says 19 communities set new daily highs for May 4 on Monday, again paced by Pemberton which reported a high of 31.5 degrees.

The community had reached 32 degrees one day earlier, setting a new record for May 3, breaking a mark set almost 70 years ago.

New daily temperature records were also set on Monday in Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Campbell River, Duncan, Kitimat, Lillooet, Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Squamish, as well as in the Metro Vancouver communities of Richmond, West Vancouver and Pitt Meadows.

Meteorologists say the high temperatures are driven by a ridge of high pressure that will slowly cool down over the next few days before getting warm again this weekend.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2026.