Alberniweather and Port Alberni Summary for November and Meteorological Fall 2022
Story of November – Cool and so Dry
Compared to October, the cooling in November, particularly at the end of the month, was notable. We ended up with a below-average temperature across the board around 1 to 1.5ºC below the 1971-2000 average at both the Airport (vs Robertson Creek) and Alberniweather (vs Somass “A”).
That cold weather is also an indicator of the next part of the story, lack of rain. November 2022 saw the lowest rain total for the month at both the Airport (since 1994) and Alberniweather (since 2006). November 2022 will be within the top 5 driest Novembers ever recorded since 1894. We have seen only about 25% of our normal rainfall for the month.
This is especially notable as November 2021, last year, was amongst the top 5 wettest Novembers ever recorded.
We only set a few low temperature records at the Airports. None were all time/all Valley records for the day.
We also had notable snowfall on November 30th of 24cm officially measured “On the Ground” at the Airport. Records for “On the Ground” snowfall measurements are sparse in the historical record and the Airport station has only been tracking this since 2017.
In other local weather news, unfortunately both the Maquinna and Alberni Elementary stations maintained by Islandweather.ca/UVic are no longer reporting current data. So the only data from within City limits this month is from this Alberniweather weather station.
You can check out some graphs and more data below, but first, the seasonal summary!
Story of the Season – A Very Dry and Hot Fall!
Part of this will be expected, and part might not. Yes, it was very dry through all three months of fall. September, October and November all were at or near record low rainfall amounts. September and especially October were also very warm. In fact, they were so warm that Fall 2022 came out as the warmest in the Airport (17.3º C) and Alberniweather (17.6º C) records for average high. Any value over 17ºC for the average high through the fall is amongst the highest in the records going back to 1900.
Also, thanks to the clear nights, the Airport logged the coldest average minimum temperature (3.92ºC) in its records since 1994 for the three months but it was nowhere near the coldest average fall minimum in the valley records of -0.7º C in 1946. BRRRR!
Finally, the lack of rain was very noticeable throughout the 3 months and with 201mm recorded at the Airport it is the third lowest ever recorded for all stations since 1894. Both Beaver Creek and the old Port Alberni station recorded under 200mm of rainfall in 1936. I think it is safe to say 2022 is the second driest fall ever recorded and the driest fall since 1936.
The impact of this long drought on our water supplies was confirmed this morning in a tweet from Stephen Watson at BC Hydro.
He shared this rather shocking graph showing water coming into the Ash River system is at unprecedented low levels for December 1st.
We should be well into recharging these water systems by now.
La Niña is still expected to be active this winter and only transitioning in February/March. We can probably expect the lack of precipitation, and cool weather, to continue. We’ll see if that also translates into a low snowpack.
You can see more graphs and data from Alberni Valley stations below. Enjoy!
Daily and All Time Day Records Set for the Month
Set at Airport* since 1994 and compared to other stations** since 1900 (1895 for rain)
Unlike the crazy number of records set in October, the list for November is much shorter and much less extreme. We did not set any all-time records. The Airport set three new daily records for low temperature and recorded snow on the ground for the first time on November 30th.
- Nov 9 – Low Temp -6.2º C : Record is -7.2º C at Beaver Creek in 1911
- Nov 18 – Low Temp -6.0º C : Record is -7.9º C at Port Alberni A (Somass) in 1985
- Nov 19 – Low Temp -6.6º C : Record is -8.2º C at Port Alberni A (Somass) in 1977
- Nov 30 – Snow on Ground 24cm : First Record since 2017 – Record is 40cm in 2006 at Rbts Creek
This Month’s Graphs from Historic Alberni Valley Weather Stations
A selection of graphs from Environment Canada stations and Alberniweather.
Latest values on the far right, click to enlarge/download.
This Month’s City Station Values Compared to Normal
Mean Min, Mean, and Mean Max Temperature,
Total Precipitation and Highest Wind
- Alberniweather (Averages – Daily): 0.9º C, 3.6º C, 6.9º C, 79.5 mm, NE 43.5 kph on 24th
- Maquinna Elem.: NA (Data Incomplete)
- Alberni Elem: NA (Data Incomplete)
This Month’s Average City Values
- City Stations: 0.9º C, 3.6º C, 6.9º C, 79.5 mm, NE 43.5 kph on 24th
- Normal 1971-2000 (Prt Alb A (Somass)): 2.2º C, 5.1º C 7.9° C, 309.4 mm
Differences from Normal (1971-2000) in the City
-1.3° C, -1.5º C, -1.0º C, -229.9 mm (25.7%)
This Month’s Average Airport Values
- Airport (Port Alberni AUT) : -1.4º C, 2.3º C, 6.0° C, 90.1 mm
- Normal 1971-2000 (Rbrtsn Creek): 1.6º C, 4.3º C 7.0° C, 336.9 mm
Differences from Normal (1971-2000) at the Airport
-3.0° C, -2.0º C, -1.0º C, -246.8 mm (26.7%)
Normal Days of Precipitation at Airport (1971-2000)
- >= 0.2 mm: 21.1 : 10
- >= 5 mm: 13.8 : 6
- >= 10 mm: 10.7 : 3
- >= 25 mm: 5.0 : 1
Fall Season Graphs from Historic Alberni Valley Weather Stations
A selection of graphs from Environment Canada stations and Alberniweather.
Latest values on the far right, click to enlarge/download.
* May have used backup Environment Canada Data source at WeatherStats.ca for Missing Data
** Short Term means since 1994 at the new AVRA Airport. Airport Records are compared to the 30+ year weather stations of record since 1900 (1895 for rain) at Beaver Creek, Port Alberni “City” and Robertson Creek. Note that records pre 1950 may be more likely to over-estimate high temperatures.
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