November rainfall totals double monthly average in some regions of Vancouver Island
The West Coast storm season has begun, and it did so with a bang – or rather, a wet wallop.
Dolly Parton once said, "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." Well, Dolly, we put up with a lot of rain and we’ll take all the rainbows we can get here in B.C.
November took a turn in the middle of the month when a monster storm dropped too much moisture on British Columbia, leading to flooding, mudslides, washed away roads and drowned farms.
On Sunday, Nov. 14, a significant atmospheric river brought copious amounts of rain to southern B.C. The storm broke 20 one-day rainfall records across the province.
From Saturday, Nov. 13, to Monday, Nov. 15, five spots in British Columbia received over 200 millimetres of rain, with Hope being the leader at an astounding 252 millimetres.
In terms of monthly records, only Abbotsford broke its November precipitation record. Abbotsford got 540.7 millimetres of precipitation this past November. Its long-term average is 248.2 millimetres for the month, and the previous record was 421.8 millimetres set in 2006.
By now, everyone in the province knows the damage that was done and the lives that were impacted negatively. After that huge event we watched as a series of three more atmospheric rivers were lined up in the Pacific, all waiting to take their turn to dump even more water on B.C.
In a more typical year, the West Coast will see eight to 10 atmospheric rivers. This year, we saw four in the back half of November alone.
The series of storms led to large rainfall totals for the month.
(CTV News)
While many people weren’t familiar with the term "atmospheric river," or AR, before this year, it’s not new. It’s been used since the 1990's when more research and attention started being given to the weather phenomenon.
ARs are fed by the tropics with moisture and warm air that moves into the northwest Pacific Ocean, which is also pumping moisture into the atmosphere.
Everything collides and turns into a river in the sky and when that river makes landfall, the rain falls.
An atmospheric river is full of moister and warm air, and we’ve really seen that with the last AR that arrived in B.C., as we’ve set daily record-high temperatures a couple of times this week.
The temperatures peaked on Dec. 1 when Penticton tied an all-time record in Canada hitting 22.5 C on the first day of the month. The previous record was set in Hamilton, Ontario back in 1982.
Even on Vancouver Island, the Malahat area broke a record, just barely, on Wednesday with a temperature of 10.5 C. The old record was 10.0 degrees set in 1988.
(CTV News)
While it’s nice to have a balmy day to start off December, it’s also a problem as that warm air can melt already fallen snow in high elevations, and that runoff can contribute to more mudslides, flooding and overflowing rivers and streams.
With barely any breaks in between these systems, our ground is at capacity for taking in water. B.C. is over-saturated and even though we’ll see more typical weather and rain for the next while, every rain day will be concerning.
Even a little rain could potentially cause issues in those areas already hit so hard. Waters will recede and we will continue to help each other rebuild our lives, but it won’t be a very relaxing winter as we’ll have to pay close attention to what’s coming our way next.
If only we’d get the rainbows without the rain for the rest of the season.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
B.C. man used Bobcat as 'weapon' while chasing away homeless people, judge says
A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
'Nobody should be getting away with murder': Grieving mother speaks out after son killed in North Preston, N.S.
A grieving mother is speaking out after her 36-year-old son was shot and killed in North Preston, N.S., Wednesday night.
Toronto-area dessert shop featured by Keith Lee forced to move after zoning complaint
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.