A major wind and rain storm in early November began what was overall a relatively cool and dry month of weather in the region. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

highs and lows

November unusually chilly and dry across Nanaimo & Oceanside

Dec 3, 2022 | 8:39 AM

NANAIMO — Another month of record-setting weather for the mid-Island.

While it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who was in Nanaimo in November, it was an unusually dry and cold month, especially compared to the deluge of rain received in November 2021, which ended up being the wettest fall in Nanaimo’s history.

Meteorologist with Environment Canada Alyssa Charbonneau said last month saw cooler conditions pretty much across the entire province.

“For the Nanaimo area, it actually ranks as the third coldest November on record. The mean temperature for the month was 2.9 degrees, the normal mean temperature would be about 5.6 degrees. So almost three degrees colder than normal for the month.”

Weather records in Nanaimo date back to 1892.

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When it comes to precipitation, Charbonneau said the Nanaimo region received about half of its normal amount of rain or snow.

“99.4 millimetres was recorded compared to an average of 197.2 (millimetres). While it doesn’t make a top ten finish, it is coming in at about 50 per cent of what you’d normally expect to see in terms of precipitation for the month of November.”

Most of the months rain came during a violent rain and wind storm on Nov. 4 which saw power knocked out for upwards of 40,000 BC Hydro customers.

The weather patterns for the month saw a variety of conditions.

“High-temperature records, low-temperature records, and we had that cold early in the month, then we had some mild conditions in the middle, and then cold to finish the month out,” said Charbonneau. “A bit of swinging both ways, but when it averages out, it was colder than normal.”

These fluctuating patterns were enough to break a few overnight low temperatures by more than a full degree.

“Nanaimo area set an overnight low minimum temperature record, that was on the 18th of November, the new extreme was set at -5.7, previous was -4.4, set back in 1903.”

Other places on the Island set both high and low-temperature records last month, some within a few days of each other.

On Nov. 24, Qualicum Beach reached a new daily maximum high of 13.4 degrees, beating the previous record of 11.7 degrees set in 2008.

On Nov. 9, they got down to -3.6 degrees, going lower than the previous record of -2.5 set in 1982.

At the Campbell River airport, they hit 11.2 degrees also on Nov. 24, beating their previous record of 10.5 degrees set in 1995.

They also set a number of daily low-temperature records, including a low of -7.8 degrees on Nov. 9, beating the old record of -4.1 degrees set in 2003.

Looking into December, Charbonneau said they predict the cooler-than-average temperature pattern to persist into the first week of December.

“Later next week, we do see some rain and potentially more snow returning to the forecast. Just generally cool conditions expected to persist into next weekend and potentially through much of December.”

She reminds drivers, especially those in higher elevations, to remember to check conditions and the forecast before heading out on a road trip, and it’s always a good idea to have some kind of emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle during the winter months.

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