Balmy weather leads to lack of precipitation in November
By Nelson Daily Staff
November usually brings the greatest total monthly precipitation of the year.
However, 2020 November saw an increase in precipitation-free days said the Southeast Fire Centre in its monthly weather synopsis.
Weather Services at the Southeast Fire Centre said number of precipitation-free days increased from 13 to 18 in November.
“Fewer frontal waves in the prevailing westerly flow resulted in a total monthly precipitation roughly 30% below average,” said the Southeast Fire Centre.
The Southeast Fire Centre said the monthly snowfall total was 10% above average due to a greater proportion of the month’s storms being cool enough to bring snow — meaning slightly more snow than average was received with roughly half the average rainfall,” Southeast Fire Centre said.
“Considering the greater than normal ratio of snow to rain this year, it’s a bit surprising that the mean monthly temperature was 0.7 degrees higher than average,” the Southeast Fire Centre said.
“Strong Pacific frontal systems often start out as snow, then transition to rain as the airmass warms up and snow levels lift off the surface, so it’s possible that weaker/briefer storms brought the initial snow, but didn’t follow up with the usual rain.”
Southeast Fire Centre said a new daily maximum temperature record of 17.1 was set on November 5th.
November 5th also saw the greatest average winds in the valley bottom from the south.
“The highest temperature on record for the month is 19.2 set in 1975,” Southeast Fire Centre said.
The balmy weather appears to be coming to an end as Environment Canada is forecasting periods of snow for the next week.
