Soggy July well short of record
The raindrops added up to a markedly wetter than usual July.
Rainfall measured 85.2 mm over the course of the month – 37 per cent more than the norm of 62.1 mm, but still short of the record of 131.2 mm set in 1982, according to Environment Canada, which has kept records for Prince George since 1942.
It also marked a rebound from the exceptionally dry – as well as smoky – Julys the city went through during the last two summers, when rainfall added up to 37.2 in 2018 and 28.2 mm in 2017. And it was the first time this year that monthly rainfall ended up higher than normal.
“It’s not enough to alleviate the dry spell,” Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald said Friday. “Those precipitation deficits are really pronounced so it’s really good that we’ve had this one really wet month but still not enough.”
This past month will also be remembered for the number of thunderstorms. Provincewide, there were 246,000 lightning strikes, well up from the average of 96,000.
“Fortunately, a lot of our lightning this summer has been accompanied by rain, so we haven’t had these dry lightning episodes that are historically responsible for a lot of fire starts,” MacDonald said.
He said an unsettled weather since the end of June is behind the pattern.
“There’s been this broad upper trough that’s been covering the province and it’s been very stubborn and reluctant to leave,” MacDonald said.
It rained on 21 of July’s 31 days, compared to the normal of 14 days and at 15.3 C, brought cooler than normal temperatures by a half degree, he noted.
“Despite it being not ideal barbecue weather, I think it was much needed from a drought perspective,” MacDonald said.
August got off to a “soggy start” as Friday morning’s rain added up to 18 mm, already a third of the norm for the month. It also forced closure of the city’s sports fields and ball diamonds for the day.
Other than a chance of showers today, he said it should be sunny and warm with highs around 27 C for the next four to five days.
“But then we return to kind of an unsettled pattern towards the end of next week,” MacDonald said. “We’ll likely see some more rain and showers in August.”