A recent storm dropped a significant amount of rainfall in coastal BC and in North Cowichan, half a month’s worth of rain fell.
Environment Canada Meteorologist Matt MacDonald said North Cowichan had three and a half inches of rain and this is becoming the norm on the west coast.
“I think this is a perfect example of what we can expect with climate change,” said MacDonald. “Numerous studies have shown that the west coast will actually get wetter and that the rain will be concentrated over fewer days. We can expect more of these high-intensity rainfall events.”
MacDonald said in less than two days, North Cowichan received a huge amount of rain.
“Some areas on the west side of the island got some pretty impressive rainfall amounts, North Cowichan got (over that day and a half period, Sunday night and through Monday), 89 millimetres of rain, which is about half the overall amount of rain for the month of November.”
Over the same period, North Courtenay, Qualicum, and Sechelt received 56, 42, and 45 millimetres of rain respectively.
On November 26, North Courtenay received nearly 38 millimetres of rain, breaking the old record of 33 millimetres on the day in 1951.
Sechelt hit 14 degrees Tuesday, seven degrees warmer than normal. It also beat the record temperature for the day, which was set in 2011.
