Rain from single storm in B.C. exceeds what most Canadians see in a year
B.C.'s recent rainfall caused flooding, mudslides, a state of emergency, and has exceeded the amount of rain most Canadians see in one year.
A powerful atmospheric river, which is a narrow band of intense rainfall, traversed the South Coast of B.C. through the end January and brought damaging amounts of rain that caused flooding, mudslides, and even a local state of emergency. The rainfall reports are nothing short of staggering and the following statistics that we calculated will help put these astronomical rainfall totals into perspective.
In approximately one week, parts of Vancouver Island recorded more rain than the total amount that Fredericton, London, Ottawa and Toronto each normally accumulate in a given year. Halifax, you're safe this round, as regions in Nova Scotia are the rainiest locations in the east and generally receive over 1200 mm of rain per year.
Effingham station, which is located on the southwestern fringes of Vancouver Island, is in a prime location to capture extraordinarily heavy rainfall events. It is situated on the windward side, the direction facing the prevailing winds, and recorded over 900 mm of precipitation with this one storm.
B.C. has recently been plagued by numerous rainfall events and several weather stations across the province, including Comox Valley, have recently experienced some of the wettest months on record.
To those who are fans of the rain, B.C. is the place for you, and Prince Rupert is calling your name. This city’s claim to fame is the largest annual rainfall total for a population centre in Canada, which is nearly 2500 mm.
