Surging temperatures break 18 heat records in southern B.C.

British Columbians who woke up this morning wiping sweat from their brow, wondering if it was warmer than usual for June, take comfort: it likely was, depending on where you live.

More than a dozen daily heat records tumbled as temperatures surged across the southern half of the province Wednesday. Preliminary numbers from Environment Canada show that the eastern Fraser Valley and the Interior were particularly scorching, with temperatures cracking 30 C.

Princeton hit 33 C, topping a record set 101 years ago. Lytton was the hottest place in the province, reaching36.2 C.

The new records are as follows:

• Abbotsford area 31.9 C (Previousrecord: 28.5 C)
• Agassiz area 33 C (Previous record: 31.1 C)
• Campbell River area 30 C (Previous record: 28.7 C)
• Chilliwack area 33 C (Previous record: 32.2 C)
• Gonzales Point area 30C (Previous record: 28.8 C)
• Hope area 32.5C (Previous record: 28.4 C)
• Lytton 36.2 C (Previous record: 36 C)
• Malahat area 29.2C (Previous record: 26.6 C)
• Merritt area 32 C, tyingprevious record
• Nanaimo area 32C (Previous record: 30.6 C)
• Pitt Meadows area 31.7C (Previous record: 31.1 C)
• Powell River area 29 C(Previous record: 28.3 C)
• Princeton area 33 C(Previous record: 32.8 C)
• Squamish area 31.4C (Previous record: 27 C)
• Tofino area 27 C(Previous record: 26.7 C)
• Vancouver area 29 C(Previous record: 27.4 C)
• Victoria area 29.6C (Previous record: 28.9 C)
• White Rock area 30.9 C(Previous record: 29.4 C)

Environment Canada meteorologist Louis Kohyani said a stubborn high-pressure weather system is to thank for the unseasonal heat.

"The ridgeremained over the area yesterday, allowing the temperature to rise to record-breaking temperatures," said Kohyani, speaking over the phone Thursday morning.

Southern B.C. is sizzling through several warmer-than-usual spring days this week. Environment Canada said Wednesday was expected to be the hottest of the bunch. Temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler Thursday.

Fire crews in B.C. pay close attention to weather in the month of June, as it can be largely indicative of how severe the looming wildfire season may be.

Drought concerns have already forced water restrictionson Vancouver Island andthe Gulf Islands, as well as a Level 3 drought rating for the Fort Nelson area in northern B.C.