Much-needed rain came down in buckets Wednesday on some B.C. cities, and in some cases it washed away records that were nearly a century old.
Environment Canada reported that there were five cities that experienced record-breaking heavy rainfall over the previous 24 hours, courtesy of an upper low.
Most notable was Castlegar, B.C., which saw 32 millimetres of rain come down, surpassing a previous daily record for 24.1 mm set in 1926
In the Nelson area, the new record for daily precipitation is 21.5 mm, which breaks the record of 16.8 mm set in 1951. In Osoyoos 13.5 mm of rain fell, breaking an old record of 12.4 mm set in 1999.
Sparwood’s rainfall was more than double what the previous rainiest day was, with 36.7 mm falling, washing way a record of 16.1 mm set in 1986.
Trail was similarly sodden by Wednesday’s rainfall, setting a daily record of 22.7 mm and breaking its previous record of 12.7 mm set in 1979.
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While there were only five records broken, Environment Canada also offered some insight on where rain has left other areas of the province, showing some areas got as much as 53.4 mm in one 24-hour period.
Despite rain, drought conditions in the province remain extreme, with little improvement from last month.
the province’s 34 water basins, all but seven are classified in the two highest categories of drought, with likely or certain adverse impacts on people and ecosystems.
Summary of 24-hour rainfall totals in mm:
The Goatfell Forestry Station 53.4
Elko Forestry Station: 50.0
Morrissey Highway Station: 46.7
Pend d’Oreille Forestry Station: 39.0
Sparwood Airport: 36.7
Castlegar Airport: 32
Akokli Creek Forestry Station (near Boswell): 31.4
Kootenay Pass Highway Station: 31.3
Hall Creek Highway Station: 31.9
Cranbrook Area: 21 – 31
Creston Airport: 29.0
Moyie Highway Station: 25.6
Warfield: 22.7
Nelson: 21.5
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