Prince George enjoyed record-setting warmth on Monday.
The high for the day reached 8 C, eclipsing the old record for Dec. 7 of 6 C, set in 1990, Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist confirmed.
El Nino, the pattern of warmer sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, was a big reason for the exceptional warmth – the normal high for this time of year is around -3 C – and there was a "very strong flow" of warm air over the province.
"When we have these low-pressure systems – a southwest flow loft and a southerly flow at the surface – it brings up the warmer air from down south," Lundquist said. "It's pumping up the warm air from southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and these low pressure systems and that strong flow helped to stir that warm air up into the Central Interior."
On Tuesday, the high was 5 C, which was below the record for Dec. 8 of 7.2 C set in 1957.
As well, many commuted to work in freezing rain – it was enough for Environment Canada to issue a warning urging drivers to be careful on the slippery roads.
"That's the problem when you're close to zero in the Central Interior or wavering around it or just below it, it can be a bit messy," Lunquist said.
Above-zero highs were forecast through to at least Sunday with a mixture of flurries and rain.
