119-year-old temperature record broken in Alberta on Tuesday

The scorching heat in Alberta on Tuesday broke 24 temperature records for May 3, including two more than 100 years old, according to estimates by Environment Canada.

In Calgary, a blistering new record of 27.8°C was set, shattering the previous highest recorded temperature of 26.7°C, set 119 years ago.

The other century-old record broken was in Fort Chipewyan, where temperatures rose to 25.9°C, smashing the previous high of 20.6°C set in 1898.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the highest record-breaking temperature in the province was in wildfire-stricken Fort McMurray. There the mercury rose to 32.6°C, almost three degrees higher than the previous record of 27.8°C set in 1944.

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In their weather summary, Environment Canada said the baking heat was due to a warm upper ridge that has brought above normal temperatures to much of the region.

While more records are expected to fall Wednesday, temperatures are forecast to cool by Thursday night as a cold front moves through the province.

Full list of new records

Locations are in alphabetical order.

Banff
New record of 23.7°C
Old record of 22.2°C set in 1957
Records started in 1892

Calgary Intl
New record of 27.8°C
Old record of 26.7°C set in 1897
Records started in 1885

Claresholm
New record of 29.1°C
Old record of 27.5°C set in 1998
Records started in 1952

Cold Lake
New record of 30.1°C
Old record of 25.5°C set in 1985
Records started in 1953

Coronation
New record of 27.0°C
Old record of 26.8°C set in 1985
Records started in 1928

Drumheller
New record of 30.9°C
Old record of 28.1°C set in 1998
Records started in 1954

Edmonton Blatchford
New record of 30.0°C
Old record of 27.8°C set in 1945
Records started in 1881

Edmonton Intl
New record of 29.6°C
Old record of 25.6°C set in 1966
Records started in 1959

Edson
New record of 27.7°C
Old record of 25.0°C set in 1945
Records started in 1916

Fort Chipewyan
New record of 25.9°C
Old record of 20.6°C set in 1898
Records started in 1884

Fort McMurray
New record of 32.6°C
Old record of 27.8°C set in 1945
Records started in 1944

Grande Prairie
New record of 27.6°C
Old record of 25°C set in 1945
Records started in 1923

High Level
New record of 30.6°C
Old record of 23.3°C set in 2009
Records started in 1968

Jasper Warden
New record of 25.7°C
Old record of 23.9°C set in 1936
Records started in 1916

Lethbridge
New record of 29.5°C
Old record of 27.6°C set in 1998
Records started in 1902

Lloydminster
New record of 28.6°C
Old record of 28°C set in 1985
Records started in 1905

Peace River
New record of 28.8°C
Old record of 27.8°C set in 1945
Records started in 1944

Pincher Creek
New record of 25.8°C
Old record of 25.6°C set in 1966
Records started in 1894

Red Deer
New record of 27.9°C
Old record of 27.8°C set in 1945
Records started in 1909

Rocky Mountain House
New record of 27.2°C
Old record of 26.1°C set in 1945
Records started in 1917

Sundre
New record of 27.4°C
Old record of 25°C set in 1998
Records started in 1986

Vauxhall
New record of 30.3°C
Old record of 30°C set in 1998
Records started in 1914

Waterton Park Gate
New record of 24.8°C
Old record of 23.3°C set in 1998
Records started in 1967

Whitecourt
New record of 28.5°C
Old record of 27.2°C set in 1945
Records started in 1943

The following locations tied record high temperatures or came close:

Brooks
Tied record of 29.8°C
Record of 29.8°C set in 1912
Records started in 1912

Lacombe
Tied record of 28.3°C
Record of 28.3°C set in 1945
Records started in 1908

Medicine Hat
Near-record of 28.4°C
Record of 29.4°C set in 1924
Records started in 1884