Skip to content

First we were hot last month, then we got wet

If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes. Or perhaps a week. The old adage couldn't have been more accurate for the Comox Valley during September, as the weather in the area proved to be record-breaking, particularly in extremes.

If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes. Or perhaps a week.

The old adage couldn't have been more accurate for the Comox Valley during September, as the weather in the area proved to be record-breaking, particularly in extremes.

"It was a tale of two months," said Gary Dickson, meteorologist for Environment Canada. "It was pretty hot and pretty wet."

Dickson noted the Comox Valley broke two temperature records, tied one, and nearly doubled the average rainfall for the month.

During the beginning of the month, temperatures surpassed decades- old records.

On Sept. 7, the temperature recorded at the Comox airport weather station was 27.6C, surpassing 26.7C set in 1944. One day later, the temperature rose to 29.4 degrees, breaking the 1989 record of 28.6.

On Sept. 10, the recorded high of 26.7C tied the record set on that day in 1944.

Although no records for precipitation were broken within the month, Dickson said there were significant days of rainfall, with 26.6 mm recorded on Sept. 25.

He added the normal rainfall for September is 45 mm, but this year the total for the month was 84.9 mm.

Dickson attributes the warm weather during early September to a strong ridge of high pressure combined with warm air from the south.

As for the next few months, he predicts below-normal temperatures with some cooler weather, but added rainfall amounts until December should be about normal.

photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com



Erin Haluschak

About the Author: Erin Haluschak

Erin Haluschak is a journalist with the Comox Valley Record since 2008. She is also the editor of Trio Magazine...
Read more