Skip to content

As the Coast experiences wettest fall ever, Okanagan sees normal rainfall

Cities across the Okanagan saw rainfall considered to be average, meteorologist says
27389437_web1_21128-PWN-RainfallPUSH-RainfallBC_1

There appears to be a simple explanation for why it seems like the Okanagan hasn’t had as much rain in the autumn as it normally would.

A number of weather trends this year in B.C. have left some experts speechless but when it comes to precipitation in the Okanagan, analyses say records set on the Lower Mainland not here.

“When they have a really terrible time on the coast with a lot of rain, that’s the best possible scenario for us,” said Doug Lundquist, a Kelowna-based meteorologist.

“When we get storms, the mountains protect us, so there’s nothing unusual about that. But what is unusual is what they got on the Coast.”

Environment Canada recognizes all of September, October and November as the months that make up the fall season. Throughout the three-month span, Kelowna saw 96 millimeters of precipitation which matches the city’s yearly average.

Vernon and Penticton also totalled precipitation amounts in the fall that would be considered average.

Despite the numbers not plummeting, the Okanagan’s neighbours to the west experienced the wettest autumn ever while cities like Kelowna saw no change in the amount of rain that came down.

Abbotsford and Hope, respectively, saw close to 300 millimetres of precipitation in a two-day span in mid-November, more than Penticton would see in an entire year.

“When it’s nasty on the Coast, it’s the best possible weather you can get in the Interior,” he said. “What’s bad for (the coast), is good for us.”

While Vancouver, Abbotsford, Comox and Nanaimo experienced the wettest fall ever, cities across the Okanagan saw rainfall considered by Lundquist to be average to slightly above average.

READ MORE: 295 millimetres of rain: Abbotsford, Hope set precipitation records

READ MORE: Snow-melt, rain to increase B.C. flood risk as 3rd storm moves in


@lgllockhart
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.