Weather Appreciation

[grammafreddy]

Note: the picture is taken just outside of Hedley.

Bloody clear-cutting

[Glacier]

Today was the wettest April day on record for Penticton. 36.4mm fell today; the previous record was 29.6mm back in 1987. Other parts of the Southern Interior were also wet, but not record setting.

• Osoyoos: 26.8 mm
• Summerland: 25.0 mm
• Kelowna: 19.6 mm
• Vernon: 19.2 mm
• Salmon Arm: 14.8 mm
• Kamloops: 12.4 mm

BTW, Penticton averages 26.6 mm of precipitation for the entire month of April.

[Glacier]

Yesterday it rained all day in Osoyoos. The 12.8 mm that fell made it the wettest May the 4th [be with you] on record in that town. Interestingly, the rain system seems to have been confined to the extreme South Okanagan because Penticton only received 0.4 mm.



At 2:00 pm yesterday afternoon Kelowna and Vernon were 13 and 14 degrees while Osoyoos was a mere 7 degrees of miserable rain. Things are looking up because the weather is supposed to warm rapidly over the next three days.

[Queen K]

I see one of the spots on Spotted Lake has the shape of a heart. Nice. That part of Hwy 3 never gets old.

[Glacier]

It's interesting how all of Canada (except the South Coast) had a mild winter - including the Yukon. Meanwhile, Alaska had one of the coldest and snowiest years on record. Anchorage, the largest city in the State, saw its snowiest season on record with 134.5 inches of snow falling since October 30th (date of the first snowfall). That's more than 11 feet of snow, breaking a 57 year old record.

The bad part now is that all that snow is melting, and flooding people's basements. Check out the following picture taken at the road from the village to the airport on Nunivak Island off the southwest Alaska coast. Theresa Kiokun of Mekoryuk took this shot on May 5, 2012. She says the sides are still 10 feet high on this 3- mile stretch.

[GenesisGT]

Interesting Kelowna weather fact

Kelowna has the calmest winds in Canada with the greatest percentage of wind observations per year of calm conditions (39%).

[Glacier]

I suspect that your statistic is derived from the 100 largest cities database - the same database that says that Kamloops has the hottest summers in Canada.

Just as there are a handful of communities in Canada with hotter summers than Kamloops (eg. Osoyoos, Oliver, & Spences Bridge) there are also a few communities in Canada with lighter winds than Kelowna. Still, the Kelowna airport is definitely one of the calmest places in Canada.

Lightest windspeeds in Canada:

Pos.---- Town ---- Average Windspeed (km/h)

1. Blue River, BC --- 0.8
2. Dome Creek, BC --- 1.1
3. Dawson, YK --- 1.1
4. Puntzi Mountain, BC --- 1.2
5. Revelstoke, BC --- 1.4
6. Kelowna, BC --- 1.5
7. Germansen Landing, BC 1.5
8. Quesnel, BC --- 1.7
9. Burns Lake, BC --- 1.7
10. Port Alberni, BC --- 1.7
11. Nanaimo, BC ---1.8
12. Maniwaki, QB --- 1.8

[Lady tehMa]

Glace - what is going ON with this cold front? *shivers*

[Glacier]

On the bright side, it could be worse. Stockholm, Sweden, only made it up to 6 degrees the other day, which was the coldest day in June in over 80 years. They also had snow. And Ontario isn't much better with frost doing damage on their apples. (Can you believe that 30% of readers on Castanet were 'happy' or 'thrilled' about this story?)

With all the rain and cold weather - and even a frost warning, it should be pointed out that this is not that abnormal for June. June is the wettest month of the year in the Okanagan (with the exception of the extreme south where May is slightly wetter).

Even though June has longer daylight hours than the rest of summer, the amount of sunshine is actually higher in July and even August in most of BC (especially the south). This is because the weather is typically unstable until about the second week of July.

Not only is June wet and cloudy, but the higher elevation spots often get snow. The Nickleplate Mine near Hedley is a prime example, as is Barkerville. Both of these places have weather records dating back over 100 years.

The last time snow was not recorded in BC during the summer it was 1944. This rare phenomenon also took place 6 times in the 30s and 4 times in the 20s. It should be noted that there were few weather stations back then than there are today, so the probability of a no-snow summer was higher.



While we are talking of extremes, here are a list of the coldest June temperatures ever recorded in various spots around the province:

Barkerville (records since 1888): -6.7°C on June 12th, 1945

Princeton (records since 1936): -2.2°C on June 1st, 1939

Fort Nelson (recrods since 1937): -1.1°C on June 10th, 1957

Kelowna (records since 1968) : -0.6°C on June 9th 1973
Oliver (records since 1924): -0.6°C on June 3rd, 1976
Kaslo (recrods since 1894): -0.6°C on June 1st, 1943

Penticton (records since 1941): 0°C on June 13th 1952
Vernon (records since 1900): 0°C on June 10th, 1933

Osoyoos (records since 1954): 0.6°C on June 3rd, 1976

Chilliwack(records since 1879): 1.1°C on June 19th, 1911
Kamloops (records since 1951): 1.1°C on June 6th, 1962

Vancouver (records since 1937): 3.9°C on June 1st, 1976

SPRING IN REVIEW:

I have noticed a shift over the past few years from a warmer spring to a warmer fall. Even though Spring 2012 was warmer than the last couple, the cool wet spring has extended into the summer yet again. By contrast, the last September was one of the hottest on record. I have been meaning to look into this tread, but haven't had the time yet. I suspect this is a cyclical trend rather than a new trend, but once I finish a few of my other projects, I promise to look into this one a little further.

The temperature varied from 0.4 degrees above normal to 1.1 degrees below normal along the coast. The Okanagan valley was very close to average (0.1 to 0.2 degrees above).

Precipitation was actually drier than normal in our area, but most of the province was wetter (we are the only area of the province with below average snow pack right now).

As I've mentioned before, 2010-2011 was the only time in recorded history that the temperature failed to reach 30 degrees for two consecutive springs in a row. A three-peat was avoided, however, because several locations exceeded 30 degrees.

Lytton: 33.0
Osoyoos: 32.5
Hedley: 32.5
Warfield: 32.4
Ashcroft: 32.2
Midway: 32.0
Oliver: 32.0
Castlegar: 30.7
... skip a few....
Kelowna: 29.9

By comparison the hottest Spring temperatures ever recorded in BC:

NOTES:

• 1947 was the warmest Spring on record with an average temperature of 13.6 degrees in Lytton.
• The hottest Spring heatwave to hit BC and the Okanagan was in 1936.

[NAB]

Vancouver's stormy summer on pace for record cold
Gloomy forecast could make this B.C.'s coldest ‘Junuary’
By Benjamin Alldritt, Vancouver Sun June 14, 2012 11:44 AM

VANCOUVER, B.C.: JUNE 13, 2012 -- People bundle up, June 13th, as Vancouver has another cold rainy grey day.

Vancouverites may love to complain about their “bummer summer,” but it’s not just casual griping any more. Current temperatures are on track to make this June the coldest on record.

As of Wednesday, this month’s mean temperature — an average of the coldest and warmest temperatures each day — was 13.2 C. That’s a substantial drop from 2011’s mean temperature of 15.3 degrees.

You have to go all the way back to 1971 to find a “Junuary” even close to being that chilly, when the mean temperature was 13.5 degrees. The mean June temperature has dipped below 14 degrees six times in Vancouver since records began in 1937.

Environment Canada’s short-term forecast suggests thermometers will rise next week, but that doesn’t mean sunscreen will be flying off the shelves anytime soon.

“Twelve days in and it’s been terrible,” said Environment Canada meteorologist David Jones. “Overall the pattern looks terrible for the next seven to nine days with several storms sweeping across the Pacific and some of them nailing us. There’s a steady stream of systems that will completely eliminate the possibility of a nice sunny day. If you’re hoping for outdoor recreation, don’t be too hopeful.”

Jones said it’s too early to declare 2012’s June as the coldest on record, but “it’s not very encouraging.”


“June can be one of those months that can swing one way or the other and that’s what messes us up,” he said. “It can be a fantastic summer month.”

Jones dismissed any suggestion the low temperature is connected to any long-term cycles.

“The weather is never that simple,” he said.

At Swimco’s Fourth Avenue location, employee Alex Shaw said store traffic is about the same as this time last year, but almost all of her customers looking for a new swimsuit are leaving the country to find some sunshine.

“There definitely has been some discussion about the miserable weather,” she said. “They aren’t really in the mood to be trying on suits. Personally I have not been to the beach yet. Usually I would be studying at the beach right now.”

[Queen K]

Spotted Lake this June 9th, what a contrast to the pic Glacier posted for May 5th. Question for Glacier, is the image of Spotted Lake taken around May 5, or is it from your random files at a different time of year? Mine is on June 9th, after Osoyoos has experienced torrential rains the previous week.

[Lady tehMa]

Appreciating the data; it helps keep some things in perspective.

Sun today! I may leave work early just to enjoy it

[Glacier]

I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on

I don't mean to jinx us, but it looks like we will be getting some good sunshine with 31 degrees by Friday. Sunshine, awe beautiful sunshine...

Have you ever wondered where you'd have to move to in order to follow the sunshine around BC? Wonder no further because I've looked at all 87 sun measuring stations across BC to provide you with an answer. Some of these (like VERNON SOUTHWEST) only have 5 to 10 years of data, but some like VANCOUVER INT'L A have over 40 years of data. I've come with a formula to reduce the margin of error. Reduce, but not eliminate. I suspect that given enough data, Victoria would have more sunshine than the Vernon station, but it would be close. Most of seasons would be close, but not fall and winter. The Chilcotin is by far the sunniest place in BC in the winter while the East Kootenay is by far the sunniest place in BC in the fall.

NOTES;

- CLICK HERE if you want to see where each station is located. The Yellow marks the 5 sunniest places in BC and the pink marks the 5 cloudiest places in BC.
- ARAWANA is Naramata as far as I'm concerned (I've never heard of ARAWANA before)
- Hours of sunshine is effected hills as well as cloud cover.
- All but 3 weather stations stopped recording sunshine in 2001

Sunniest places in BC:



1) VICTORIA GONZALES HTS (2212.5 hours)
2) CRANBROOK A (2200.8)
3) FORT ST JOHN A (2182.5)
4) KIMBERLEY COMINCO (2156.5)
5) PUNTZI MOUNTAIN (2115.0)
6) VERNON SOUTHWEST (2114.2)
7) VICTORIA INT'L A (2082.5)
8) PRINCETON A (2068.9)
9) SUMMERLAND CDA (2068.9)
10) KAMLOOPS A (2062.8)
11) WILLIAMS LAKE A (2053.2)
12) ARAWANA (2049.8)
13) KIMBERLEY PCC (2037.0)
14) VERNON (2033.4)
15) ANAHIM LAKE 5 MILE RANCH (2014.1)
16) FORT NELSON A (2007.3)
17) ARRAS (2005.5)
18) MCCULLOCH (2003.0)
19) CHETWYND A (1985.4)
20) CRESTON WPCC (1976.6)
21) SATURNA ISLAND CS (1970.4)
22) OLIVER STP (1945.3)
23) KELOWNA A (1943.4)
24) PENTICTON A (1943.4)
25) VANCOUVER INT'L A (1932.2)
26) PRINCE GEORGE A (1931.1)
27) SURREY WHITE ROCK (1922.3)
28) PEACHLAND BRENDA MINES (1913.4)
.
.
.
55) SALMON ARM (1664.0)



Least sunny places in BC:



1) MORESBY ISLAND MITCHELL INLET (772.8 hours)
2) STEWART A (974.8)
3) KITIMAT 2 (1086.2)
4) NASS CAMP (1200.4)
5) PRINCE RUPERT A (1216.1)

Mean: 1757.1 hours
Median: 1804.6 hours

_____________________________________



Sunniest Winters in BC:

1) PUNTZI MOUNTAIN (284.2 hours)
2) ANAHIM LAKE 5 MILE RANCH (247.2)
3) FORT ST JOHN A (245.0)
4) VICTORIA GONZALES HTS (237.5)
5) CRANBROOK A (228.1)
.
.
.
15) PRINCETON A (202.3)
16) MCCULLOCH (201.6)
.
.
.
34) PEACHLAND BRENDA MINES (178.3)
35) ARAWANA (177.5)
.
.
.
38) SUMMERLAND CDA (175.9)
.
.
.
44) VERNON SOUTHWEST (168.0)
45) VERNON (167.8)
.
.
.
55) KELOWNA A (152.8)
56) COLLEYMOUNT (152.8)
57) PENTICTON A (151.6)
58) VERNON BX (150.9)




Least sunny winters in BC:

1) MORESBY ISLAND MITCHELL INLET (15.5 hours)
2) HOPE A (73.5)
3) STEWART A (78.6)
4) SALMON ARM (84.1)
5) YOHO NAT PARK BOULDER CR (86.5)
6) BELLA COOLA A (87.4)

Mean: 163.8 hours
Median: 168.5 hours

_____________________________________________




Sunniest spings in BC:

1) FORT ST JOHN A (680.0 hours)
2) FORT NELSON A (667.3)
3) CRANBROOK A (635.8)
4) PUNTZI MOUNTAIN (631.4)
5) VICTORIA GONZALES HTS (626.1)
6) VERNON SOUTHWEST (620.7)
.
.
.
12) VERNON (608.0)
13) KAMLOOPS A (605.2)
14) SUMMERLAND CDA (604.3)
15) FORT ST JAMES A (603.4)
16) PRINCETON A (602.5)
17) PRINCE GEORGE A (600.2)
18) ARAWANA (599.1)
.
.
.
21) OLIVER STP (583.7)
.
.
.
24) PENTICTON A (577.3)
25) TOPLEY LANDING (575.4)
26) KELOWNA A (575.0)
27) MCCULLOCH (573.4)
.
.
.
37) PEACHLAND BRENDA MINES (547.3)
.
.
.
53) SALMON ARM (510.7)




Least sunny springs in BC:

1) MORESBY ISLAND MITCHELL INLET (267.9)
2) STEWART A (344.8)
3) KITIMAT 2 (352.9)
4) HANEY UBC RF ADMIN (391.5)
5) COWICHAN LAKE FORESTRY (396.3)
6) YOHO NAT PARK BOULDER CR (400.0)

Mean: 527.0 hours
Median: 535.8 hours

______________________________________________________________



Sunniest Summers in BC:

1) VERNON SOUTHWEST (920.9 hours)
2) VICTORIA GONZALES HTS (906.2)
3) CRANBROOK A (891.2)
4) ARAWANA (882.5)
5) VICTORIA INT'L A (863.7)
6) FORT ST JOHN A (862.0)
7) VERNON (861.5)
8) KIMBERLEY COMINCO (861.0)
9) SUMMERLAND CDA (860.5)
10) KAMLOOPS A (852.9)
11) PRINCETON A (839.5)
12) WILLIAMS LAKE A (835.6)
13) VERNON BX (832.7)
14) CRESTON WPCC (831.1)
15) KELOWNA A (829.7)
16) SATURNA ISLAND CS (828.0)
17) ARRAS (819.8)
18) PENTICTON A (815.4)
.
.
.
22) MCCULLOCH (MCCULLOCH)
.
.
.
6) SALMON ARM A (797.5)
27) SAANICHTON CDA (792.9)
28) PEACHLAND BRENDA MINES (791.8)
.
.
.
31) SALMON ARM (781.7)





Least sunny Summers in BC:

1) MORESBY ISLAND MITCHELL INLET (383.7)
2) STEWART A (411.9)
3) PRINCE RUPERT A (436.5)
4) KITIMAT 2 (472.3)
5) NASS CAMP (516.7)
6) YOHO NAT PARK BOULDER CR (531.7)

Mean: 729.9 hours
Median: 764.5 hours


______________________________________________


Sunniest Fall in BC:

1) KIMBERLEY COMINCO (468.1)
2) KIMBERLEY PCC (451.3)
3) CRANBROOK A (445.6)
4) VICTORIA GONZALES HTS (442.8)
5) SUMMERLAND CDA (428.2)
6) VICTORIA INT'L A (425.6)
7) PRINCETON A (424.6)
8) MCCULLOCH (421.6)
9) OLIVER STP (412.7)
10) KAMLOOPS A (407.0)
11) VERNON SOUTHWEST (404.5)
12) CRESTON WPCC (404.5)
13) PENTICTON A (399.0)
14) ANAHIM LAKE 5 MILE RANCH (398.9)
15 VERNON (396.1)
16) PEACHLAND BRENDA MINES (396.0)
.
.
.
22) ARAWANA (390.6)
.
.
.
27) KELOWNA A (385.9)
.
.
.
67) SALMON ARM (287.6)




Least sunny Fall in BC:

1) MORESBY ISLAND MITCHELL INLET (105.7 hours)
2) STEWART A (139.5)
3) NASS CAMP (166.2)
4) KITIMAT 2 (171.8)
5) PRINCE RUPERT A (223.5)
6) KITIMAT TOWNSITE (230.2)
7) TERRACE A (239.9)
8) DEASE LAKE (245.1)

Mean: 336.4 hours
Median: 347.2 hours

[Cumungala]

Wow lol, it would sure suck to live at Moresby Island Mitchell Inlet. Only 772.8 hours of sunshine per year and only 15.5 hours in the winter time. Judging by the location, they're probably one of the rainiest places in BC instead.

The meteorologists are saying that the entire country is in for a hotter than normal summer. It sure isn't starting out that way. The amount of rain we've gotten so far this June has to be a record.

[Lady tehMa]

Time to update precip data Glace?