Temperatures increase for July — again!
By Nelson Daily Staff
July was once again a hot month for the region said Ron Lakeman Weather Forecaster for the Southeast Fire Centre in Castlegar.
Lakeman said the recent month was 2.5 degrees warmer than a typical July month in the West Kootenays.
“July had a maximum monthly high temperature of 38.8 degrees and a monthly low of 7.3 degrees,” Lakeman explained in his monthly weather report.
“Temperature wise July 2015 was amazingly similar to July 2014 (with) both months were approximately 2.5 degrees warmer than a typical July.”
Lakeman said an upper ridge of high pressure dominated during July which resulted in conditions that were notably warmer and drier than normal.
“The average daily maximum temperature was 31.1 degrees,” Lakeman said.
“The hottest temperature during the month and the only record daily maximum temperature during the month was 38.8 degrees on (July) 3rd.”
“The total rainfall was 50% of normal,” Lakeman added.
Moisture came in small amounts thanks to several weak disturbances that clipped the area with frequent thunderstorms and minor amounts of rain at times.
“The only significant rainfall (16.3 millimetres) occurred with the slow passage of a more substantial Pacific system during the weekend of the (July) 25th & 26th,” he said.
On a positive note, July 2015 was not as dry as the year gone past in 2014.
“Both Julys were drier than normal. . .. July of 2014 was the drier of the two with only 23% of the normal amount of rain,” he said.
Forecast for the next few days is for changing weather with the chance of thunderstorm Wednesday before a mix of sun and cloud for the rest of the week and into the weekend.
