Penticton’s last great stand in summer weather may have gone out with a record-breaking bang.
Residents who felt a bit flustered on Saturday were right if they thought things were a bit hotter than usual, as Environment Canada confirms a record was broken for high-flying temperatures.
On Sept. 24, Penticton airport measured the temperature at 32.3 C — blasting the previous bar of 27.8 C set on the same date in 1967.
“On the 24th, it was 32.3, which is the all-time record for that day,” meteorologist Doug Lundquist said.
Penticton wasn’t the only Okanagan town with stifling temperatures. Kelowna broke a record having a 30-degree temperature six days later than ever before, and Coldstream Ranch near Vernon hit the 30s three days later than ever before in September.
While soggy weather seems to have set in, Lundquist said there’s a small chance Mother Nature may be looking to serve up one last side of summer.
“In October, you can pretty much guarantee you won’t see 30,” he said. “There’s a slight chance that it might happen. The ridge is going to try and build back and if it does, if there’s the right kind of wind, it might. I’m crossing my fingers we can do it, but it’s a one-in-a-million shot.”
The Weather Office was forecasting clouds on Wednesday, followed by sun on Thursday and partial cloud through to Saturday.