By Ian Holmes

One of nastiest winters on record in Nanaimo: Environment Canada

Mar 3, 2017 | 1:49 PM

NANAIMO — Stunning numbers from Environment Canada on what turned out to be one of coldest winters in the Nanaimo region over the last 120 years.

Meteorologist Matt MacDonald said the average temperature for December, January and February was 1.6 C, which is the seventh coldest since the government began record-keeping in 1893. He said it was a full two degrees colder than normal at Nanaimo Airport during the frigid three-month span.

“We usually see anywhere from two to three arctic outbreaks. This winter we actually saw six arctic outbreaks,” MacDonald said. “There was a lot of cold air on the coast.”

He said there was 115 cm of snowfall at Nanaimo Airport this winter, compared to the average of 51 cm.

Interestingly, MacDonald said rainfall totals were way down.

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“Nanaimo recorded 240 mm of rain this winter and that’s compared to a normal of 450…only half the normal amount of rain, the big change being a lot more snow.”

MacDonald said the mid-island region was in a deep-freeze in December, as noted by an average temperature .6 C, while the average is 3.1 C.

A whopping 69 cm of snow fell in February, according to MacDonald. He said while that is a substantial amount, it’s nowhere near the record 122 mm of snow that piled up locally in February 1975.

The first day of spring is March 20 and MacDonald said most long-term weather models indicate colder than normal conditions for most of this month. He said there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“Beyond that as we head into April and May, we’re expecting conditions to return to normal.”

ian.holmes@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @reporterholmes