by Leslie Cox; Thursday, December 11, 2014

Just caught up on my weather data entries since this latest series of horrific rainstorms have been pounding us here in the Comox Valley. Some interesting facts are being revealed.

First some background info. According to my records…last year our total rainfall was 1661 mm (66.4 inches). This is not the official record for Black Creek but my stats do follow pretty much in line.

Looking at this year’s weather readings…this last summer, we only had 115 mm (4.6 inches) of rain in a 78 day period between May 28th and Aug 14th. We are all agreed, I think, this constitutes a drought. Certainly, those of us gardeners who were standing for hours, days on end, with a hose in our hands in an effort to keep our vegetables and ornamental plants hydrated are definitely in agreement on this tough drought period.

Well, what would you say if I were to tell you that…as of today…our total annual rainfall for 2014 is currently sitting at 2318 mm (92.7 inches)? We have had 262 mm (10.5 inches) in the last seven days alone.

So the 2014 total-to-date is a whopping 657 mm (26.3 inches) more than 2013’s annual total…and we still have 3 weeks until we reach the end of the year.

I want to point out this is more than a third of the entire 2013 total.

Considering these findings…can we really call 2014 a “drought year”…even in light of the hot, fairly dry summer we had? Certainly, it has been officially labeled as the “Hottest Year in Recorded Weather History”.

Some food for thought:

• Can we expect more of these extreme swings in weather from drought to flooding?
• Is this steady climb in annual temperature going to continue without any kind of a break?
• How is this potentially new weather trend going to affect our economy…speaking specifically of food production, natural disasters and amount of re-building?

Speaking to this last item…the number of homes landing in flooded rivers and washed out in mudslides, the number of businesses damaged and either temporarily or permanently shut because of the extent of repairs, the number of agricultural fields and valuable crops damaged due to both drought and flooding, the serious damage to infrastructure caused by flooding…

I admit. I have concerns.

 

Note: The second photo shows the tributary feeder creeks to the Black Creek…which is off to the left beyond the photo…all in full flood mode. This is affecting the farm behind us and the two farms to the north of us.