Blast of frigid air topples 15 B.C. temperature records

Temperatures are set to plummet below -20 C across a large swath of B.C. on Wednesday, but the unseasonably cold weather already set 15 records the day before.

On Tuesday, Abbotsford set a daily record of -12.1 C, breaking the old record of -12 C set in 2008.

Nearby, Hope set a new record of -15.6 C, breaking the old record of -15.5 C set in 2008.

As expected, the farther north travelled, the colder it got.

2:16 B.C. evening weather forecast: Dec. 20

The Puntzi Mountain Area set a new record when the mercury plunged to -46.9 C, breaking an old record of -43 C set in 2008.

It wasn’t the only place to fall to such temperature depths. Dease Lake set a preliminary record of -43.1 C Tuesday, breaking a record of -41.1 C set in 1980.

Expect to see more records fall on Wednesday as a very cold arctic air mass has settled over the region.

Temperatures near -25 C to -30 C with northeast winds up to 15 km/h will result in wind chill values near -40 C, except in Yoho Park, where wind chill values may dip to near -45 C.

Temperatures will gradually rise on Thursday and Friday.

1:35 Travel slowly resumes at YVR following mass flight delays, cancellations from B.C. snowstorm

Below is the full list of temperature records:

Bella Coola area 
Preliminary new record of -20.1 C
Old record of -15.2 C set in 1990

Burns Lake area 
Preliminary new record of -40.8 C
Old record of -37.2 C set in 2008

Fort Nelson area 
Preliminary new record of -42.4 C
Old record of -40.8 C set in 1980

Fort St. John area
Preliminary new record of -41 C
Old record of -39.4  C set in 1933

Prince George area 
Preliminary new record of -41.1 C
Old record of -40 C set in 1924

Prince Rupert area
Preliminary new record of -16.3 C
Old record of -15.6 C set in 1964

Sandspit area  
Preliminary new record of -8.5 C
Old record of -5.6 C set in 1964

Smithers area  
Preliminary new record of -32.9 C
Old record of -32.2 C set in 2008

Tatlayoko Lake area  
Preliminary new record of -35.9 C
Old record of -34.3 C set in 2008

Whistler area 
Preliminary new record of -19.1 C
Old record of -18.8 set in 1990 C

Williams Lake area 
Preliminary new record of -37.1 C
Old record of -36.3 C set in 1990

3:31 Edmonton weather forecast: Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Environment Canada also said three new records were set in the Yukon.

Faro area 
Preliminary new record of -47.2 C
Old record of -45.5 C set in 1980

Teslin area 
Preliminary new record of -42.6 C
Old record of -41.7 C set in 1955

Watson Lake area 
Preliminary new record of -49.2 C
Old record of -47.2 C set in 1955

Environment Canada also posted data on how much snow fell in several communities on Tuesday. All totals in cm.

Southern Interior

• Rossland: 30
• Yahk: 15-20
• UBCO Kelowna: 16
• West Kelowna: 16
• Grand Forks Area: 15
• Penticton: 11
• Pennask Summit: 10
• Grasmere: 7-10
• Summerland: 8
• Osoyoos: 5

Vancouver Island, Southern Gulf Islands

• Malahat: 37
• Victoria Airport (YYJ): 36
• Downtown Victoria Area: 35
• Victoria View Royal: 35
• Shawnigan Lake: 35
• Cowichan Bay: 35
• Saturna Island: 33
• Nanaimo Airport: 30
• North Cowichan: 30
• Duncan Area: 30
• Saanichton Area: 29
• University of Victoria: 27
• Qualicum Beach Airport: 12
• Port Alberni: 12
• Comox Airport: 12
• Cochrane: 11
• Kennedy Lake: 10
• North Courtenay: 8

Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast

• Tsawwassen Area: 35
• South Surrey: 35
• White Rock: 34
• Downtown Vancouver: 30
• Vancouver Area: 30-32
• Abbotsford Area: 20-30
• Surrey Cloverdale: 26-30
• Fort Langley: 28
• Pitt Meadows Airport: 28
• Vancouver Airport (YVR): 27
• Richmond: 26
• North Vancouver: 25
• Chemainus: 24
• Port Moody: 24
• Coquitlam Area: 24
• Westwood Plateau: 24
• Abbotsford Airport (YXX): 19
• West Vancouver: 16
• Sechelt: 14

1:37 Saskatoon morning weather outlook: Wednesday, Dec. 21