Near-record temperatures to continue

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Clocks sprung forward and temperatures soared into the mid-teens this weekend and while the spring-like weather did not result in any record-breaking temperatures the warm weather will continue as we get closer to the official start of spring.

For the most part temperatures fell a couple degrees shy of records, though a high of 13.6 Celsius in Vernon on Sunday was only one degree from setting a new record. According to Environment Canada the temperature reached 12.6 C in Kamloops, well below the 18.9 C record, Kelowna hit 14.6 C, two degrees shy of the record, and in Penticton temperatures hit 15.3 C on Sunday, also a couple degrees below the record.

Along with a mainly sunny outlook this week temperatures are expected to remain well above seasonal normals of 8 C to 10 C with the mercury expected to hit 13 C to 18 C most days, though a high of only 11 C and a chance of rain is being forecast for the Okanagan on Wednesday. Temperatures will also remain above normal seasonal lows of -1 C overnight.

Record high temperatures for March 9 vary from the 17 C range in the Okanagan to 20.6 C in Kamloops. In Penticton the current record high is 17.3 C and with a forecast high of 18 C today will be the closest to possibly setting a new record.

Spring does not officially start until the Spring Equinox on March 20.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 205-718-2724.