The warmest July since 2007
By Nelson Daily Staff
It was a July for the weather record books.
“It was the warmest July since 2007,” Ron Lakeman, meteorologist at the Southeast Fire Centre in Castlegar, said in a statement.
“The high temperature exceeded 30 degrees 18 of the 31 days.”
Lakeman said the reason for the gorgeous month weather-wise was due to a “high pressure dominated for dry and very warm conditions during the majority of the month.”
“The mean monthly temperature was two degrees warmer than average for July while the total rainfall was only 35 percent of normal,” Lakeman explained.
July saw only four days of measurable rain with the most significant amount (14.0 millimetres) and over 70 percent of the months total rainfall occurred due to upper trough and its band of thundershowers on the 17th of the month.
Lakeman said the warmest temperature during the month was 38.3 degrees on July 2nd, which is also a new record daily maximum temperature on the same day.
Following one of the best months on record, the weather appeared to turn a little heading into the final month of summer — August.
However, following a few days of unsettled weather, temperatures are expected to climb once again into the 30 C range for the rest of the week.
The cooler weather also was a blessing for firefighters battling the Perry Ridge blaze near Winlaw.
The “active” fire, sparked by lightning, is now 20 percent contained.
“Due to cooler temperatures and precipitation, fire activity remained minimal overnight and continues to only smoulder this (Monday) morning,” the report on the Southeast Fire Centre website read.
Currently 108 firefighters are battling the remote fire located 4.5 kilometres from Winlaw, which is burning in a remote area and is not threatening any structures or communities at this time.
There are also three helicopters assisting the firefighters.
The fire rating for the Southeast Fire Centre has dropped between low and moderate.
An open fire ban continues in the district. Campfires are permitted.
