National

Electricity demand and temperatures hit record levels in B.C.

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 May, 2026 04:18 PM

Warm weather across British Columbia has driven electricity demand to the highest level ever seen in May.

BC Hydro says residents using fans and air conditioners pushed demand to about 7,600 megawatts.

The record demand comes as temperature records continue to fall across B.C. as unseasonably warm weather persists, including in Vancouver, where a mark set more than 100 years ago was broken.

Environment Canada says Vancouver's high temperature on Monday reached 23.9 degrees, easily breaking the record of 22.2 degrees set in 1898.

The weather forecast agency says 19 communities set new daily highs for May 4 on Monday, including Pemberton, which reported a high of 31.5 degrees.

Meteorologists say the high temperatures are driven by a ridge of high pressure that will slowly cool down over the next few days before getting warm again this weekend.

The national hot spot on Monday was Lytton, B.C., at 31.9 degrees.

New daily temperature records were also set on Monday in Bella Coola, Campbell River, Duncan, Kitimat, Lillooet, Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Squamish, as well as in the Metro Vancouver communities of Richmond, West Vancouver and Pitt Meadows.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. temperatures hit mid-30s, but warm spell won't last

Temperatures in parts of British Columbia have spiked into the mid-30s, but a meteorologist says the warm spell won't last long.

B.C. temperatures hit mid-30s, but warm spell won't last

Carney grilled on U.S. tariffs in his first question period in House of Commons

Prime Minister Mark Carney fielded questions about the trade war with the United States and his decision to delay the federal budget to the fall as he faced his first question period grilling in the House of Commons Wednesday.

Carney grilled on U.S. tariffs in his first question period in House of Commons

Boy aged 4 dead, mother critical, after being pinned under bus at B.C. ferry terminal

Police say a four-year-old boy is dead and his mother is in critical condition after they were pinned under a bus in West Vancouver, B.C.

Boy aged 4 dead, mother critical, after being pinned under bus at B.C. ferry terminal

Bill fast-tracking infrastructure projects passes as Speaker Raj Chouhan breaks tie

A controversial bill in British Columbia responding to American tariffs has passed with Speaker Raj Chouhan casting the deciding vote Wednesday evening.

Bill fast-tracking infrastructure projects passes as Speaker Raj Chouhan breaks tie

Carney's cabinet ministers evade journalists' questions at defence industry show

For the second time in as many days, a member of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet cancelled media availabilities today and refused to take questions from reporters.

Carney's cabinet ministers evade journalists' questions at defence industry show

Provinces 'hold the key' to unlocking homebuilding, new report argues

While the federal government and cities across Canada are making strides on expanding the housing supply, the provinces still need to get serious about building quality homes, a new report released Thursday argues.