Rainfall was slightly above average for Nanaimo and much of eastern Vancouver Island in 2024, boosted by a handful of late-year storms. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

wet-ish

‘Exiting a long term drought:’ slightly above average Nanaimo rainfall helping ease water concerns

Jan 3, 2025 | 3:02 PM

NANAIMO — While it wasn’t a record-breaker, 2024 proved to be a notable year for local weather watchers.

Monitoring stations at Nanaimo Airport collected 1,360.5 millimetres of rain through the calendar year, placing it just ahead of the 1,165.4 millimetres expected but well back of the 1,695.3 millimetre record set back in 1983.

Environment Canada meteorologist Chris Doyle said a few large events helped push rain levels to above normal levels.

“If you wanted to describe the year in Nanaimo as a whole, I’d say it’s kind of the run of the mill wet year.”

Other areas of eastern Vancouver Island told similar stories, with 1,327.2 millimietres falling in Comox, clearing that community’s annual average of 1,153 millimetres.

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Vancouver, however, lived up to its soggy reputation last year, with Environment Canada data showing 2024 was the city’s wettest year so far this century.

More than 1,367 millimetres of precipitation was recorded at Vancouver International Airport last year.

The drenching was boosted by a series of atmospheric river events and other storms, and represents the highest annual precipitation for Vancouver since 1999, when 1,394 millimetres fell.

December marked a bit more of a notable trend, with temperatures soaring compared to averages.

Data collected at monitoring stations in Nanaimo, Comox and Campbell River saw the mercury soar.

“In every case, it was a warmer December than average. Thirteenth warmest on record for Nanaimo, third warmest for Comox and second warmest for Campbell River,” Doyle added.

Above average rain came with the seasonally warm temperatures, with Nanaimo receiving 137 per cent of normal precipitation in December.

Doyle said while he hadn’t seen updated data, he believed the rain deficit facing the region over recent years was beginning to ease somewhat.

“I would hazard to guess that the inner south coast, including the east part of Vancouver and across the water over on the Vancouver side are exiting a long term drought at this point with the precipitation we’ve gotten, but anywhere east of the Coastal range is still very dry.”

Little to no snow at sea level is in the long term forecast.

Doyle said meteorologists “don’t really see it” in long-term modelling, although some forecasts are suggesting cold air could move down from the Arctic toward the end of the month.

He added though the models are “very uncertain”.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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