Unseasonably warm weather has broken temperature records in southern British Columbia, including century-old marks in Greater Victoria.
Multiple records fell on Wednesday at weather stations throughout the region — including at the University of Victoria, Hartland, Gonzales Point and Esquimalt — where a high of 12.9 C surpassed a record set in 1922. Records at some of the stations have been kept since 1874.
Environment Canada says high temperature marks were also broken in West Vancouver, where the mercury hit 14 C and shattered a 1986 high by 2.5 degrees, and White Rock where the high of 13.5 C broke a record standing for 88 years.
Records were also set in Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast, with 13.7 C, and as far afield as Osoyoos in the Interior, with 6.9 C.
Environment Canada had warned that the Pacific frontal system bringing the warmth would also bring strong wind to the southern coast, with gusts potentially reaching 120 kilometres an hour in exposed regions.
BC Hydro said more than 1,000 customers lost power on Cortes Island after a tree fell on wires, leaving several neighbourhoods without power overnight. The power was back on by Thursday afternoon.
