It was 2.5 C warmer than usual in May in Nanaimo, while only a third of the average amount of rain fell. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Early summer

Heat trend expected to continue in Nanaimo area after scorching, dry May

Jun 4, 2019 | 4:07 AM

NANAIMO — There’s every indication Nanaimo is in for another long, hot summer.

Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald told NanaimoNewsNOW May was the fifth month in a row locally which was significantly drier than usual.

He said the severe lack of rain and additional blast of recent heat created drought-like conditions.

“We only picked up 17 millimeters of rainfall and the normal is 54. That only puts us at a third of the normal amount of rain for the entire month,” MacDonald said.

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In addition to a bone-dry month, Macdonald said it was 2.5 C warmer than usual.

It was the second-warmest May at Nanaimo Airport since record-keeping began 126 years ago.

“That’s a truly exceptionally warm month,” MacDonald said.

“And as we head into summer our seasonal forecast is suggesting more of the same, really strong probabilities of a warmer-than-normal summer.

MacDonald said rain anticipated throughout the week of June 3 would only represent a small drop in a very large bucket.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes