Sunday heat breaks decades-old records on Vancouver Island

Sunday heat breaks decades-old records on Vancouver Island
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Port Alberni reached 32.1 degrees Celsius Sunday, a full degree over its previous record for May 13 of 31.1 degrees in 1939.

Port Alberni reached 32.1 degrees Celsius Sunday, a full degree over its previous record for May 13 of 31.1 degrees in 1939.

A mid-May heat wave on Vancouver Island broke records that had been the standard for hot weather in three communities for decades.

Port Alberni, forecast to reach highs in the low 30s Monday and Tuesday, hit 32.1 degrees Celsius to break a nearly 80-year-old record.

The hottest May 13 was in 1939 when the mercury climbed to 31.1 degrees.

Records began there in 1900.

A 45-year-old heat record for the day fell in Campbell River when the city got up 27.5 degrees.

The previous mark for Campbell River was 26.1 degrees set in 1973 and records began being tracked in 1958.

The Comox area also had its hottest May 13 on record with a 26.6-degree reading.

Records for the region began in 1914 and the new mark is a full degree hotter than the previous high of 25.6 in 1925.

In its weather summary of records broken in B.C. Sunday, Environment Canada says the information is unofficial and does not constitute a complete or final report.

Andy NealAndy Neal

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