If you thought it was warmer than usual on the weekend, you were right.
Salmon Arm experienced record-breaking temperatures both Saturday and Sunday.
Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist dug back in the data and discovered that the 20.8 C reached Sunday broke a 1974 record of 19.4 C.
More dramatic was Saturday’s record 19.6 C, some three degrees warmer than the same day in 1974 when the temperature reached 16.7 C.
“We had a strong ridge of high pressure and the sun happened to break out,” said Lundquist, who pointed out accompanying wind was an asset. “What you need more than anything is wind; it helps stirs the warmer air down. The sun has some power, but not quite enough to stir up the atmosphere.”
The warmer temperatures were also thanks to the sub-tropical air flow that blew in from an area near Hawaii.
A cold front that brought rain to the Shuswap Monday morning has also brought more seasonal daytime highs, says Lundquist, pointing out temperatures will be in the realm of 11 C to 15 C.
“But the overnight minimums will stay in the double digits for the next several days, when the average low is 1 degree overnight,” he says.
Looking ahead, Lundquist says the surface of the Pacific Ocean has been warmer than average.
“The sea surface is still warm and there could be a weak to moderate El Nino, so winter may be warmer than average,” he says. “We’ll get snow, but more rain than snow in the mix.”
But Lundquist points out that one cold Arctic outbreak that brings a week to 10 days of icy weather will have everyone complaining it’s a cold winter.