October’s precipitation total went through the roof on southeastern Vancouver Island amid seasonally cool to mild temperatures and sunshine mostly near normal.
Chris Carss, who provides statistical data for Environment and Climate Change Canada from his Chemainus home, noted the total number of days with precipitation was also near-normal during the month. But heavier downpours occurred, bumping up the total monthly precipitation to almost double the normal amount to 237.5 millimetres.
Keith Rush recorded slightly less precipitation at his Foster Point Road residence on Thetis Island, but still a substantial amount at 193.9 mm for the month, with the bulk of it – 93 mm – occurring on Oct. 24-25.
By comparison, there was a mere 46.6 mm of precipitation on Thetis during October 2022.
The weather was literally all over the map this year in October and started with increasing cloud and above normal temperatures on Oct. 1.
Carss added Oct. 2-3 saw variable cloud with intermittent rainfall and near normal temperatures; Oct. 4-8 continued with variable cloud, but with dry weather and above normal temperatures; Oct. 9-18 was mostly cloudy with periods of rain and near-normal temperatures; Oct. 19-22 was mostly cloudy and dry with occasional sunshine and near-normal temperatures; Oct. 23-25 continued mostly cloudy with heavy rain at times and a brief period of snow with temperatures mostly below normal; and Oct. 26-31 was predominantly sunny and dry with temperatures mostly below normal.
Detailed statistics compiled by Carss were as follows:
Temperature
Mean maximum 14.8 C, normal 14.1 C.
Mean minimum 8.0 C, normal 7.4 C.
Extreme maximum 23.5 C on Oct. 7.
Extreme minimum 0.5 C on Oct. 25, 26 and 28.
Precipitation
Total days with precipitation (including mixed weather days) 14, normal 15.
Total precipitation 237.5 mm, normal 133.6 mm.
Total rainfall 230.7 mm, normal 133.6 mm.
Total snowfall 6.8 cm, normal trace.
Other Statistics
Days mostly or partly sunny and dry 15, normal 12.
Days with mixed weather (sunshine and precipitation) 6.
Total days mostly or partly sunny (including mixed weather days) 21.
As for the November outlook, Carss said it’s expected to have mostly near-normal temperatures with daytime highs averaging near 9 C.
”Precipitation should be a little below normal and sunshine could be at least a little above normal if sunny weather that’s anticipated near the end of November comes to pass,” he indicated.
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