This week’s balmy weather has been one for the record books.
Although Environment Canada readings in Warfield only date back to 2002, this past week has top the charts for April sunshine.
Tuesday’s recorded high of 27 C, blew away the previous high mark of 23 C recorded in 2010. And Wednesday’s 28 C heat easily topped the previous high mark of 25 C set only last year.
Although a change in the weather pattern is in the air, today’s forecasted high of 27 C is still well above the April average of 16 C.
Ron Lakeman, weather forecaster for the Southeast Fire Centre in Castlegar, agreed the current heat is not common for this time of year.
The Castlegar office has had continuous readings since 1965 and the high of 27. C on Monday topped its record of 23 C set in 1989.
“This weather is more typical for May, “ he said. “April will definitely go down as warmer and dryer. But it’s nothing earth-shattering.”
That said, Lakeman wouldn’t speculate on what the earlier heat could mean for the rest of the summer.
“This year we’ve had a lot of snow melt in the last couple of weeks.”
However, he added the trends can change quickly at this time of year especially with influence from warm Pacific waters.
The change in the air is expected to take effect by Friday with cooler, wet conditions settling around the region for a few days before warming up again next week.