April in Vancouver hottest on record

It probably comes as no surprise to thosewho basked in the mild weather all month, butApril in Vancouver was the hottest on record since 1937 when record-keepingbegan.

The average temperature for this pastmonth was 11.8 C, with apeak of24.4 C,according to Environment Canada. Normally the Vancouveraverage temperature in April is 9.4 C.

This April was also the driest in the city since 2004.

On average, Vancouver receives 88.1 millimetres of rainduring the month of April, but this year, that number was only24.2 millimetres.

These conditions weren't isolated to just the South Coast.

"The northern half of the province, we'veseen drier than normal conditions for this time of year. At times it's been warmer than average as well,"said fire information officer RyanTurcotwith the B.C. Wildfire Service.

It's led to an early start tothe wildfire season, with the first flames being foughtas early as March.

"It's not entirely unprecedented for fires to start this early, but it's certainly not the norm either," said Turcot.

Temperatures across the provinceare forecastto cool slightly over the next several days with a frontal wave ushering in the possibility of showers.

The clash of weather systems kicked off with a loud clap of thunder Mondaynight that had many Lower Mainland residents looking up.

With files from Johanna Wagstaffeand Farrah Merali.