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Alberniweather and Port Alberni Summary for December and the Year 2022

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Story of December – Cold and Snowy (again!)

We started December much like we ended November, cold. And that cold air lasted essentially right through to Christmas Day. Port Alberni saw Christmas with snow on the ground for the second year in a row, which given the past 10 years is certainly interesting and likely due to the persistent La Niña conditions delivering cooler and drier weather patterns.

As you’ll see below, we set a raft of records at the Airport due to the snow because this was the first time the Airport had recorded early December snowfall since 1994 (we saw some in late December last year). However, this also revealed that Robertson Creek recorded a number of days with snow on the ground. It has the longest database for snow-on-the-ground going back to 1980. So this December may have been one of the snowiest in the past 40 years.

We were well below the normal temperature. Most notable was the average maximum temperature for the month which was just 1.9ºC and (as seen in the graphs) was just 1.0ºC at Robertson Creek which may be an all-time all-station record for colds maximums in December.

However, we did not create any major new low-temperature records, and in fact despite the cold end to the year we were still well within the overall warming trend for minimum temperatures over the past few decades.

We saw a bit of a break from the drought with some late-month rain but we are still quite dry for this time of year.

This month’s graphs are after the annual summary.

Story of the YEAR – A drop from 2021 – La Niña’s influence

The annual picture is pretty mixed but what stands out is probably the drought over the July-October period and the contrast from last year’s heat dome. According to my files here, 2022 had the 8th lowest average maximum temperature (14.75º C), 3rd lowest average minimum temperature 4.02ºC (tied with 2011), and 6th lowest average mean temperature 9.38ºC. It is the coldest year since 2011 or 2012 but over 1ºC away from the top 10 historic cold years. We are in a warmer regime, this year (and last, except for the Heat Dome) feels cool because recent history has been quite warm. You can probably thank La Niña for some of that.

We have had La Niña conditions for 3 winters now. La Niña conditions are expected to persist through the Northern Hemisphere Winter and then there is a good chance we will see a transition to neutral conditions (ENSO Discussion – NOAA Climate Prediction Center). If that forecast comes true this may mean a higher chance of larger precipitation and higher temperatures in the spring-summer periods but it’s too soon to say now.

The Airport hit a Top 5 highest temperature this year (#3 38.1ºC behind 2021, 42.7º and 2009, 40º) as well as a top 5 lowest set this month (#5 -15.60ºC). It’s worth noting, as I believe I missed it last year, but the Heat Dome of 2021 did produce the highest temperature ever recorded in the Alberni Valley. Robertson Creek recorded 45.5ºC in June 2021 compared to “just” 39.9ºC this year (twice).

I highly recommended looking at the graphs below to see how this year stacks up to the past. You might be surprised what you see. The captions include what might be notable.

You can see more this month’s graphs and the seasonal graphs and data from Alberni Valley stations below. Enjoy!

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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, 1980 for snow on ground)

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While there is a long list below, it is chiefly because the Airport recorded snowfall for the first time in early December. It has only been recording snow-on-the-ground since 2016/2017. However, Robertson Creek, which has been recording Snow-on-Ground since 1980, set a number of new records throughout the month (noted with ** ** besides them)! You’ll see them all below. The “Snow on the Ground” data is not present in records prior to 1980 in the Alberni Valley.

Robertson Creek also posted a new All-Station Record for December 2nd of -7.5ºC. This was the coldest December 2nd since records began in 1900. It’s great to have Robertson Creek reporting reliably again! Its 62 years of records is second only to Beaver Creek’s 65 years. I believe Beaver Creek’s is the more stable record but hopefully Robertson Creek will settle down now and outlast Beaver Creek.

• Dec 1 – Low Temp -9.8º C : (set a high in 2021)
  Record is -15.5º C at Robertson Crk in 1985
• Dec 1 – Snow on Ground 17 cm :
  Record is 33 cm at Robertson Crk in 2006
• Dec 2 – Low Temp -6.5º C :
  **Record is -7.5ºC at Robertson Crk in 2022**
• Dec 2 – Snow on Ground 16 cm :
  Record is 32 cm at Robertson Crk in 2006
• Dec 3 – Snow on Ground 17 cm :
  Record is **30 cm at Robertson Crk in 2022**
• Dec 4 – Snow on Ground 13 cm :
  Record is **26cm at Robertson Crk in 2022**
• Dec 5 – Snow on Ground 12 cm :
  Record is **25cm at Robertson Crk in 2022**
• Dec 6 – Snow on Ground 11 cm :
  Record is **24cm at Robertson Crk in 2022**
• Dec 7 – Snow on Ground 9 cm :
  Record is **21cm at Robertson Crk in 2022**
• Dec 8 – Snow on Ground 5 cm :
  Record is 17cm at Robertson Crk in 1980.
• Dec 9 – Snow on Ground 5 cm :
  Record is 13cm at Robertson Crk in 1980/1994.
• Dec 10 – Snow on Ground 12 cm :
  Record is 26cm at Robertson Crk in 2016.
• Dec 11 – Snow on Ground 9 cm :
  Record is 29cm at Roberson Crk in 2016.
• Dec 12 – Snow on Ground 8 cm :
  Record is 19cm at Robertson Crk in 2016.
• Dec 21 – Low Temp -15.6º C :
  Record is -14.0º C at Robertson Crk in 1990.
• Dec 22 – Low Temp -13.6º C :
  Record is -15.0º C at Beaver Creek in 1924
• Dec 23 – Snow on Ground 17 cm :
  Record is **29 cm at Robertson Crk in 2022**.
• Dec 24 – Snow on Ground 18 cm :
  Record is 36 cm at Robertson Crk in 2008.
• Dec 26 – High Temp 9.4º C :
  Record is 15.0º C at Lupsi Cupsi in 1950.
• Dec 26 – Rain 42.5 mm :
  Record is 111 mm at Port Alberni A (Somass) in 1980.
• Dec 27 – Rain 38.5 mm :
  Record is 65 mm at Beaver Creek in 1922.

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This Month’s City Station Values Compared to Normal

Mean Min, Mean, and Mean Max Temperature, 
Total Precipitation and Highest Wind

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• Alberniweather: : -0.9º C, 0.7º C, 2.7º C, 162.1 mm, SSE 62.8 kph on 26th
  (Averages – Daily – CSV)
• Maquinna Elem.: NA (No Data)
• Alberni Elem: NA (No Data)

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This Month’s Average City Values

• City Stations: -0.9º C, 0.7º C, 2.7º C, 162.1 mm, SSE 62.8 kph on 26th
• Normal 1971-2000 (Prt Alb A (Somass)): 0.2º C, 2.5º C,4.7° C, 275.9 mm

Differences from Normal (1971-2000) in the City

-1.1° C, -1.8º C, -2.0º C, -113.8 mm (58.8%)

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This Month’s Average Airport Values

• Airport (Port Alberni AUT) : -2.7º C, -0.4º C, 1.9° C, 279.1 mm
• Normal 1971-2000 (Rbrtsn Creek): -0.5º C, 1.6º C 3.7° C, 336.9 mm

Differences from Normal (1971-2000) at the Airport

-2.2° C, -2.0º C, -1.8º C,  -57.8 mm (84.3%)

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Normal Days of Precipitation at Airport (1971-2000)

Normal vs Days This Month

• >= 0.2 mm: 20.4 :  18 This Month
• >= 5 mm:  13.3 : 10
• >= 10 mm: 10.1 : 9
• >= 25 mm: 4.9 : 5

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* 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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About The Author

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