Mild month foretells mild winter
September’s weather did not set any records for temperature, sunshine or rainfall, however it was a slightly warmer month than usual, a possible sign of a mild winter to come.
Powell River experienced weather slightly above seasonal average temperatures according to John Ede, weather observer at Powell River airport.
The month’s average temperature was 15.7° Celsius, almost two degrees warmer than Powell River’s 30-year average for the month. The maximum mean temperature was 21.2°C, almost 2.5 degrees warmer than the historical normal. The minimum mean was 10.1°C, more than one degree warmer than the historical normal.
The warmest day of the month was September 6 with the mercury climbing up to 25°C.
Ede confirmed that while last month’s temperatures were warmer, no records were set.
The last two weeks of the month received the majority of September’s 54.2 millimetres of rain. Ede said the precipitation level was not far off from the month’s historical average of 55.5 millimetres. Along with the rain, Powell River experienced its first days of autumn fog.
About 20 more hours of sunshine than historical norm were recorded in September, with 224.4 for the month.
Meteorologists are predicting warmer and drier conditions for the Sunshine Coast this fall and winter as an El Niño continues to develop in the Pacific Ocean. This weather phenomenon occurs when climatic changes affect the equatorial Pacific region, resulting in milder winters for the Pacific north west.
