Despite thick fog blanketing the Lower Mainland over the last week, Vancouver is in the midst of a beautiful stretch of weather, not quite characteristic of a West Coast fall.
A massive ridge of high pressure has resided over most of B.C. for almost two weeks now.
Global BC meteorologist Mark Madryga says while this is a substantial stretch of persistence, especially in the fall months, it is not unprecedented.
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The ridge has considerable mild air aloft in its structure, and with cooler, stagnant air and high humidity near the ground and the ocean, considerable fog has resided over the B.C. Coast for the past week or more.
In the month of October, the record for consecutive days without measurable rain at the Vancouver Airport is 24 days, back in 1986, when we also recorded 18 days with fog in the stretch.
Madryga says this October ranks fourth for October dry spells, at 17 days and counting.
Other dry Octobers were 1987 at 21 days in a row without rain, and 1952 at 19 days.
The weather forecast charts hint at only a chance of morning drizzle over the next couple of days, otherwise it looks rain-free, and the 1986 record is certainly within reach.
The total rainfall this October sits at 25 millimeters at the Vancouver Airport, with little or no rain likely for the rest of the month. The long term average for the month is 113 mm.
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