Mojave Desert receives more rain than B.C. in last 90 days

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

Several B.C. communities have already set all-time October records as a result of the ongoing abnormal warmth.

Due to the lack of rain that has plagued B.C. in recent weeks, the B.C government has put Vancouver Island and the South Coast in a level 4 drought. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight to the dry conditions, accompanied by extraordinary October warmth that has broken records. In fact, it’s been so dry recently that in comparison to somewhere like Las Vegas, Nev., located on the outer edge of the Mojave Desert, more rain has been recorded in the last three months than the mere 41 mm that Vancouver aiport picked up in 90 days. For details, read on.


RELATED: B.C. saw less rain in 3 months than Hurricane Ian dumped in 1 minute


This week: Drought, warmth continues with no relief in sight

Another upper-level ridge building over Western Canada will keep the province sunny and unseasonably warm through at least the first week of October.

In fact, four communities have broken all-time records. In some cases, monthly records have been broken by as much as 2°C, which is highly unusual, says Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist at The Weather Network. There is no sign of rain in the next 10-12 days.

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The new and previous October highs are as follows:

  • Victoria: Oct. 2, 25.3°C (25.0°C on Oct. 2, 1935)

  • Campbell River: Oct. 1, 26.3°C (24.2°C on Oct. 1, 1992)

  • Comox: Oct. 1, 23.0°C (22.9°C on Oct. 1, 1992)

  • Port Alberni: Oct. 2, 29.3°C (28.3°C on Oct. 8-11, 1916 and Oct. 12, 1902)

As well, several communities are looking at potentially setting a record number of 20-degree days in October so far.

Here's what the current records are:

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  • Campbell River: Seven in 1987

  • Comox: Four in 1945, 1952 and 1987

  • Nanaimo: Thirteen in 1987

  • Victoria: Seven in 1952

  • Abbotsford: Fourteen in 1944

Drought-stricken B.C. remains locked under dry pattern

This pattern isn’t very conducive for precipitation, either, as drought-stricken B.C. remains locked under a dry and dominant ridge. Because of the lack of rain, the B.C. government has put Vancouver Island and the South Coast in a level 4 drought.

"To put the lack of rainfall into perspective, parts of the Mojave Desert have received more rainfall in the last 90 days than B.C.," adds Kelly Sonnenburg, another meteorologist at The Weather Network.

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In almost three months, parts of the B.C. South Coast and Vancouver Island have received less than 20 mm of rain. The majority of the southern half of the province has received less than 40-60 per cent of its normal amount of precipitation for that time period.

For Vancouver airport, specifically, 41 mm of rain has been reported in total from July-September.

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"In comparison to somewhere like Las Vegas, Nev., located on the outer edge of the Mojave Desert and known for its arid climate, the airport in the city has reported 45 mm of rain throughout the same three months," Sonnenburg says.

Victoria has also received 29.2 mm over the three months compared to the 45 mm recorded in Las Vegas.

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This extraordinary period of warm and dry weather is set to continue through at least Sunday, with no active weather in sight, yet.

All eyes will be on the forecast ahead and if there will be a break in this dry pattern, especially as we head into B.C.'s rainy season with October through January being the provinces top four rainiest months climatologically speaking.

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Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images/FotoDuets. Creative #: 979951132. Dry grass, drought.

Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast for B.C.