What's in store for summer weather on Vancouver Island?
The arrival of June brings on the start of summer. So what can we expect for summer 2023? We’ll get to that in a minute.
First, let’s look back to spring, and more specifically the month of May. While it felt at times we were still stuck in winter mode, the month we just left broke that feeling in a big way.
March and April were pretty normal for the most part, although we didn’t get as much moisture as we would’ve liked. As we ended our third year with La Nina, the weather pattern held much of the big moisture to the south and gave heavy rain and bigger snow packs to California and Nevada. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we received what was left, meaning less moisture.
There were little bumps in temperature during the spring also. We had a record-setting weekend in the middle of March and we were able to determine that this year an El Nino would be building into the summer.
April was mostly typical, but as we started getting into the month of May we started seeing warmer temperatures – not just here on Vancouver Island, but across Western Canada and into parts of Ontario and Quebec.
Now that May has come and gone, we can see what it did deliver weather wise. Here on the island we had the warmest May recorded. Two weather stations in Greater Victoria – the airport and Gonzales – along with stations in Nanaimo, Comox and Campbell River were all number one for heat since they started tracking data. Our mean temperatures were 2 to 4 degrees warmer throughout much of the province and with that we saw 279 extreme daytime highs and 22 precipitation records during May.
If you look at the precipitation numbers from meteorological spring (March/April/May), we can see we are lagging behind and the farther south you go, the bigger the lag is. With lower moisture numbers, we’re already preparing for a very dry summer.
As we look ahead to summer, we have already established that it’s an El Nino year and it will get stronger the deeper as we get into the year.
We’re seeing both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans warming up at a faster pace than normal and numbers seem to be approx. 1-3 degrees warmer on average.
We're expecting a hotter than average summer throughout B.C. and rain seems to be lacking also.
That’s not saying we’re going to see weeks and weeks of temperatures in the 30s and 40s but it will be warmer and drier than usual and at a few points we’ll deal with heat waves and probable drought conditions through many areas.
It’s important we pay attention to the dry conditions as the risk of wildfires will be high this year. We’ve already been dealing with bad situations throughout the country.
Best case scenario is we get a run of sunshine and warm days followed by some moisture to keep things fresh. And just like your summer song this year, hopefully it stays on repeat. Of course, we know that weather doesn’t do what we want. It does what it wants and we just have to deal with it the best we can.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
NEW Life got in the way of one woman's reunion with her father, but a DNA test gained her a family
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec Health Department reports 28 cases of eye damage linked to solar eclipse
Quebec's Health Department says it has received 28 reports of eye damage related to the April 8 total solar eclipse that passed over southern parts of the province.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.