Dry month
Summer arrived a month early this year as Powell River enjoyed an usually warm and dry May.
John Ede, a weather observer at Powell River airport, said high temperatures in Powell River were almost four degrees warmer than normal last month. The maximum mean temperature for the month was 20.2° Celsius, 3.7° warmer than the 30-year climate average.
Only 14 millimetres of rain was recorded at the airport over the entire month compared to the average 77.6 millimetres. Precipitation was recorded on four days during the month, with May 13 being the day the majority of the month’s rain fell.
Close to 110 hours more than the average sunshine was recorded during the month, at 338.4 hours.
Both Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, plus the Gulf Islands have been raised to a level two drought condition due to lack of rainfall and minimal snow cover on local mountains.
Water ban
Water sprinkling restrictions are in effect within the City of Powell River.
For water sprinkling of lawns and gardens, properties with odd-numbered street addresses may water anytime on odd calendar days only.
Properties with even-numbered street addresses may water anytime on even calendar days only.
According to the city’s water sprinkling restrictions, only one hose may be used at a time for watering purposes.
Underground sprinkling systems are exempted from the restrictions if the sprinkling occurs between midnight and 7 am.
Readers can contact the city’s engineering department at 604.485.8604.
