This January, Victoria has been basking in an unusually dry spell, with the city on track to experience one of its driest months in recorded history.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Victoria International Airport weather station has recorded only 28.2 millimetres of precipitation as of January 28th — just 18% of the typical January rainfall of 143 millimetres.
Most of that precipitation fell in the first 10 days of the month, with over half recorded on January 3rd. Since January 15th, only 0.2 millimetres of rain has been recorded at the airport, marking 15 consecutive days without precipitation.
🥇Yesterday was Victoria International Airport's 15th consecutive January day with no precip which puts this run in a 2-way tie for 1st place for the longest run on record.
byu/YOW-Weather-Records inVictoriaWxRecords
If the forecast holds, the airport will hit 17 straight rain-free days by the end of the month, tying the longest dry streak ever recorded for January.
It’s not just Victoria feeling the parched weather. Other Island communities have also seen significantly below-average rainfall this month.
Nanaimo has recorded just 38.2 millimetres of its usual 189.9, and Comox has seen only 50.8 millimetres out of the typical 171.9 for January.
See also: Snow still lingering in Victoria’s weather forecast as chilly temperatures expected
The Weather Network highlighted this unusual dry spell, saying, “We’re in the midst of an extremely dry pattern across British Columbia, and the next few weeks don’t hold any promise for significant precipitation.”
If the trend continues, January 2025 will be the second-driest January on record for Victoria, just behind January 1985, when a mere 16.2 millimetres of rain was recorded.
While official sunshine records aren’t available, Victorians have likely noticed the extra rays this month. The dry, clear skies have offered plenty of sunshine — a rare treat for a month that’s typically dominated by rain clouds.
However, the sunny days may soon give way to wintry weather as temperatures continue to dip around the freezing mark. Environment Canada has forecast the possibility of snow this weekend, a sharp contrast to the unusually dry conditions seen so far this year.
For now, soak up the sun while you can and prepare for a potential dusting of snow in the days ahead!
