Sunny, albeit a little hazy, skies and no rain was the order for much of June, prolonging drought-like conditions in Nanaimo. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

what juneuary?

Drought-like conditions extend through dry & warm June in Nanaimo

Jul 5, 2023 | 2:48 PM

NANAIMO — It’s beginning to sound like a broken record: last month was drier and warmer than normal.

A somewhat typical ‘Juneuary’ on Vancouver Island failed to eventuate as the Nanaimo region saw a mean temperature of 16.8 degrees Celsius through the month, up from the normal for June of 15.6 degrees.

‘Juneuary’ is a slang weather term common on the West Coast, due to the perception that following a warm and sunny May, June tends to be cooler and wetter, but not this year.

Yi Mei Li, meteorologist with Environment Canada, said Nanaimo only saw around two-thirds of normal precipitation through June, measuring just 28.7 millimetres.

“There were more ridges of high pressure for the month of June than average. After that precipitation on June 19, it’s just mainly a ridge of high pressure in the region so that’s why we’ve had warmer and drier than normal temperatures and precipitation.”

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As of Wednesday, July 5, the region had gone 16 days without a drop of rain and no precipitation is forecasted for the next week.

Nanaimo set a drought record in 2021 with 52 straight days without measurable precipitation

Li said high pressure continues to dominate the local weather pattern dragging warm air from the south and blocking storms from the west.

The above-normal conditions and less-than-average rainfall is expected to persist for the foreseeable future, according to long-range forecasts.

Meanwhile, a thin haze of smoke moved into Nanaimo on Monday, July 3, stemming from wildfires burning in B.C.’s north.

Nick Davey, an air quality meteorologist said a low pressure system moving into Alberta forced air and smoke from north of Prince George down into our region.

“The concentrations are not apocalyptic though we’re looking at concentrations less than 20 micrograms per cubic metre, so just below advisory levels and hopefully staying aloft.”

Smoke is expected to clear before the weekend.

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