Scorching heat sizzles high temperature records

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The heat wave blasting the Southern Interior cranked the temperature up a notch Saturday breaking high temperature records in the Thompson-Okanagan.

Canada’s hot spot June 27 was Osoyoos where the mercury climbed to 40.9 Celsius, snapping the old high temperature record of 37.7 C recorded on the same day in 2000.

Kamloops hit a high temperature of 38.2 C yesterday, slipping past the previous record of 37.7 C set on June 27, 2008.

All three of the Okanagan’s major cities saw their high temperature records snapped.

Environment Canada recorded a high in Vernon on Saturday of 37.3 C, out distancing the old record high temperature of 35 C in 1995.

The mercury hit 38.1 C in Kelowna, cruising past the 34.2 C on the same day in 2008.

Penticton’s high yesterday was 36.2 C, good enough for a new high temperature record. The old record temperature was 34.9 C in 1979.

It will be another scorcher today, June 28, in the Thompson-Okanagan with sunshine and highs around 38 C.

There will be a slight break in the heat wave Monday and Tuesday with some clouds, showers and cooler temperatures in the forecast. Environment Canada is calling for a mix of sun and cloud, with a chance of some rain and highs around the 30 C mark both days.

On Wednesday, it’s back to the heat wave, with temperatures climbing back to the 38 C range by Friday.

Environment Canada says the average highs for this time of year are around 25 C.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.