Three Fraser Valley communities break temperature records

VANCOUVER — A number of long-standing high-temperature records were broken across the Fraser Valley and other parts of British Columbia Saturday (Mar. 16) as a high-pressure ridge moved over the province.

More than a dozen areas from Dawson Creek to West Vancouver broke temperature records. Hope recorded a new record high of 23.4 breaking the old record of 22.8 set in 1947. Agassiz reached 23.3 Saturday, breaking the old record of 22.8 set more than a century ago in 1900. And the high in Abbotsford Saturday of 22.6, edging past the 1947 record of 22.2.

According to Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa Ervin, a ridge of high pressure is responsible for ushering in the unseasonably warm air mass. Temperatures soared five-to-10 degrees above normal for this time of year. More records could tumble again Sunday as well.

Ervin forecasts the warm weather will persist until Tuesday before more typical March weather patterns, including rain, make a comeback later in the week.