November rain in Port Renfrew double amount that usually falls

Port Renfrew knows all about rain. But the small community on the southern edge of Vancouver Island has never seen so much — and so quickly.

By the end of November, 1,189 millimetres of precipitation had hit the ground there — more than double the amount Port Renfrew usually sees in November, and the highest rainfall anywhere on the Island for the month, even above rainy Ucluelet and Tofino.

To put things in perspective, Port Renfrew's November rainfall eclipsed the amount of precipitation Greater Victoria typically receives in an entire year, according to Environment Canada.

Port Renfrew Volunteer Fire Department chief William Toulmin said localized flooding continues to affect roads and homes in the area.

Some roadways are down to single lanes or closed as king tides and heavy rains combine to flood the San Juan River Estuary.

Toulmin said seasonally high tides over the next 60 days will be an added concern if heavy rains continue into December and January.

“All things considered, we're holding up pretty well,” said Toulmin. “People are saying we're used to the rain, but this is nuts.”

Katie Nott, who manages the Trail Head and Wild Renfrew resorts, said during heavy rains in mid-November, logs were floating in the parking lot of the local pub, and water covered the road on the Circle Route to Lake Cowichan near Fairy Lake, causing a sinkhole near Jordan River.

She said some residents have taken refuge in the resorts after their homes were flooded, but overall, the damage is not as severe as in other parts of the Island or province.