Climate
British Columbia's climate is best described as varied. The mountainous terrain causes huge changes in climatic conditions over short distances. All winter long the coast is pounded with storm after storm off the Pacific Ocean. The Coast Mountains, Cascades and also the Skeena and Hazelton Mountains block most of the precipitation which forces the majority of the precipitation to fall on the West side of the mountains. In contrast, the leeward side is much drier with some areas classified as semi-arid. The Coast of British Columbia is by far the wettest area in Canada, while areas located 150–200 km inland are some of the driest places in Canada outside of the High Arctic.
Coastal British Columbia experiences the mildest winters in Canada where freezing temperatures are infrequent. Victoria, generally considered the mildest city in Canada, has gone an entire winter without freezing. At the Sheringham Point weather station (CWSP) in the town of Shirley, sub-freezing nights are rare indeed; and completely freeze-free winter seasons a very common occurrence. In fact, the town of Shirley endures far less freezing winter weather than numerous popular tourist destinations including, but not limited to - Austin, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and even Daytona Beach, Florida! Along with the moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean, the mountains impede the flow of the cold arctic air during the winter. The only exception is the northeastern portion of the province situated on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. Without the protection of the mountains, the climate is similar to that found in the neighboring parts of Alberta. The winters are very cold and the summers are warmer than areas west of the Rockies.
Summer daytime temperatures in the Southwestern Interior are the hottest in Canada. During July and August, the average daily maximum temperature around Osoyoos and Spences Bridge is over 29 °C (84.2 °F), though Lillooet and Lytton erroneously claim to be hotter and vie for the title of "Canada's Hot Spot". This is because their summertime temperature extremes tend to be hotter than Osoyoos and Spences Bridge (despite a slightly cooler average temperature). This heat combined with little precipitation means that arid animals and vegetation thrive. Although winter temperatures are much colder than Coastal British Columbia, this area is still milder than almost anywhere else in Canada. Southern Interior valleys, including the Okanagan Valley, are spared the incessant precipitation found on the coast, but they receive some of the lowest amounts of bright sunshine in Canada during the winter months. This is a result of winter temperature inversions that leave the valleys in a layer of thick cloud while the rest of the province basks in sunshine.
| Zone | Average annual temperature | Average July daily high | Record Max | Average January daily low | Record Min | Average snowfall | Average rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East (Fort Nelson) | -0.7 °C | 23 °C | 36.7 °C | -25.6 °C | -51.7 °C | 177.8 cm | 319.8 mm |
| North West (Dease Lake) | -0.8 °C | 19.4 °C | 35.3 °C | -22 °C | -51.2 °C | 218.4 cm | 264.8 mm |
| Peace (Dawson Creek) | 1.6 °C | 21.7 °C | 34.5 °C | -20.6 °C | -49.2 °C | 174.2 cm | 325.6 mm |
| Central Interior (Prince George) | 4.0 °C | 22.1 °C | 36.0 °C | -13.6 °C | -50.0 °C | 216.1 cm | 418.9 mm |
| North Coast (Prince Rupert) | 7.1 °C | 16.1 °C | 28.7 °C | -2.1 °C | -24.4 °C | 126.3 cm | 2468.5 mm |
| Southwestern Interior (Kamloops) | 8.9 °C | 28.3 °C | 40.6 °C | -7.6 °C | -37.2 °C | 75.5 cm | 217.9 mm |
| Southeastern Interior (Cranbrook) | 5.7 °C | 25.6 °C | 36.6 °C | -11.8 °C | -40.0 °C | 139.9 cm | 270.7 mm |
| South Coast (Vancouver) | 10.1 °C | 21.7 °C | 33.3 °C | 0.5 °C | -17.8 °C | 48.2 cm | 1154.7 mm |
Source: Environment Canada, Canadian Climate Normals or Averages 1971-2000
| Warmest Annual Temperature | Coldest Annual Temperature | Sunniest | Cloudiest | Driest | Wettest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Chiliwack - 10.5 °C | Fort St. John - 2.0 °C | Cranbrook - 2205 hours | Prince Rupert - 1229 hours | Kamloops - 279 mm | Prince Rupert - 2594 mm |
Source: Environment Canada, Weather Winners WebSite
| Variable | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Temperature | 44.4°C (112°F) | Lillooet,Lytton, and Chinook Cove | July 1941 |
| Minimum Temperature | −58.9°C (−74°F) | Smith River | February 1947 |
| Least Precipitation in One Year | 102 mm (4.0 in) | Ashcroft | 1930 |
| Most Precipitation in One Year * | 9,307 mm (366.4 in) | Henderson Lake | 1997 |
| Most Snow in One Year * | 2,420 cm (950 in) | Mount Copeland | 1971 |
| Hottest Summer | 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) | Lillooet | 1958 |
| Coldest Winter | −30.5 °C (−22.9 °F) | Lower Post | 1968/69 |
| Sunniest Month | 424.6 hours | Victoria | July 1958 |
- indicates a Canadian record.
Source: Environment Canada
Read more about this topic: Landforms Of British Columbia, Physical Geography
Famous quotes containing the word climate:
“There is much to be said against the climate on the coast of British Columbia and Alaska; yet, I believe that the scenery of one good day will compensate the tourists who will go there in increasing numbers.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)
“Culture is the name for what people are interested in, their thoughts, their models, the books they read and the speeches they hear, their table-talk, gossip, controversies, historical sense and scientific training, the values they appreciate, the quality of life they admire. All communities have a culture. It is the climate of their civilization.”
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)
“If often he was wrong and at times absurd,
To us he is no more a person
Now but a whole climate of opinion.”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)