The heat in Chilliwack won’t stop.
Monday’s 34.2 C high was 11.1 C above normal for the day and marked the sixth temperature record in the month.
The previous high record maximum was 33.9 C on Aug. 28, 1967, according to Environment Canada volunteer weather observer Roger Pannett.
And Monday’s high was almost matched by Sunday’s 32.5 C, a record for Aug. 27 beating the 32 C in 2009. That was 10.2 C above normal for this time of year.
Moisture has been in short supply as well as residents will have noticed. So far in August the city has seen 3.5 millimetres (mm) on two days, which compares to the usual average for August of 64.8 mm on nine days, according to Pannett.
Other temperature records were broken in early August as, even with smoky conditions and hazy sunshine, Aug. 2 was a scorcher. That day broke three records: high minimum at 18.2 C (previous high minimum 16.5 C in 2014); high mean at 26.9 C (previous high mean 24.1 C in 2009); high max of 35.6 C (previous high max of 32.8 C in 1927).
August’s hot temperatures come after a July that saw just nine mm of rain. That level of precipitation was 80.4 per cent below normal at 46 mm, the driest July since 2013, according to Pannett.
Pannett said the combined June and July rainfall total was 63.7 per cent below normal, the driest for the period since 2004.
Environment Canada is forecasting a brief respite in temperatures over the next three days in the 26 C to 27 C range, but then 30 C-plus temperatures and sun are expected for the long weekend.
@PeeJayAitch
paul.henderson@theprogress.com
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