B.C. temperature records fall as heavy rain from atmospheric river lingers

By Canadian Press on March 19, 2026.

VANCOUVER — An ongoing atmospheric river soaking British Columbia’s coastal regions is also bringing unseasonable warmth, breaking century-old daily temperature records in several Interior communities.

Environment Canada says seven communities reported record high daily temperatures on Wednesday.

Those include Kamloops, where the temperature reached 21.8 C, breaking the record set in 1910, as well as in Quesnel and Salmon Arm, where records set in 1901 and 1915 were broken.

Salmon Arm’s high temperature reached 21.7 C, shattering the old mark of 16.7 C.

Meanwhile, Environment Canada says a prolonged atmospheric river over B.C. continues to bring heavy rain.

Rainfall warnings are in place on western Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Sea to Sky and parts of the Metro Vancouver regions.

The forecast calls for up to 130 millimetres of rain to fall before Friday, with some places already reporting in excess of 200 millimetres since the atmospheric river event made landfall Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2026.

The Canadian Press