November Flood - 14./15.11.2021

 

Record Rainfall in BC and the Pacific Northwest

“Hope, Agassiz, Malahat, Lillooet, and Abbotsford set new daily rainfall records on November 14, while both Hope and North Vancouver exceeded their average rainfall levels for all of November in a span of two days.”

Road Traffic between Vancouver and the rest of Canada cut off

“The combined closures of sections of British Columbia Highway 1 (part of the Trans-Canada Highway), Highway 99, Highway 7, Highway 3, and the Coquihalla Highway (part of British Columbia Highway 5) had the effect of cutting off road traffic between Metro Vancouver and the rest of Canada.”

Highway 3 reopened Nov 29, 2021 for essential traffic (regular traffic Dec 21, 2021)
Highway 99 (Duffey Lake) Nov 29, 2021
Highway 1 (Fraser Canyon) Jan 24, 2022.
Highway 5 (Coquihalla) Dec 20, 2021 for commerical traffic, Jan 19, 2022 for regular traffic
Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge still closed as of July 2022

Sumas Prairie Flooded

In addition water from the Nooksack river in WA contributed to the flooding of Sumas Prairie in BC, leading to evacuations, closure of roads and railroad tracks and substantial loss of lifestock.

Rain, Finally! August 7

 

This time no records were broken but its close and its been a long time since the last rain, from June 15 to August 7. A few 'T' for trace on the Environment Canada website but I don't think we got any of it in Burnaby. 52 days! No wonder our big Rhodo called it quits and the Star Magnolias are not looking that great either.

Record Temperatures and Flood Risk - June 24 - 29

 

Three days in a row the Canadian heat record was broken in the town of Lytton with 46, 47 and 49C.
Apparently this is also a record for any place north of 50 degree latitude worldwide. Disaster strikes on the 4^th day when most of the town burns down and inhabitants have only minutes to get out. Terrible to see this happen to a place we often visited on our Thompson paddle trips.

Meanwhile some Pemberton residents are evacuated because of flood risk. The unusual high temperatures cause much accelerated snow melt.

 https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/07/01/news/fire-destroys-homes-buildings-lytton-bc-residents-missing

We had our own private record and measured 40oC at our place in South Burnaby - don't think it has ever been that hot in the almost almost 20 years we live here.

Cypress Skiing - May 7

 

This winter season was above average for snow. Still lots of white stuff around for a tour at Cypress.

Wall of Clouds - Feb 23

 

Wall of clouds coming across the Strait of Georgia this morning. The road up to Cypress Bowl is not the best for a clear view in this direction. As I drive home the sighting of a rare squall line is mentioned on CBC.