British Columbia should be well into its rainy season, but instead persistent hot and dry weather has created drought conditions. Here are some of the numbers connected with the drought:
Recorded rainfall between July and Oct. 14, compared with average rainfall:
Vancouver: Current 16 mm. Average 165 mm
Victoria: Current 2 mm. Average 100 mm
Abbotsford: Current 10 mm. Average 222 mm
Chilliwack: Current 8 mm. Average 245 mm
Drought levels
The B.C. government ranks drought levels from 0 to 5, with a 5 rating being the most severe with adverse effects to socio-economic or ecosystem values being almost certain.
5: All regions of Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, Lower Mainland, Fort Nelson, north, south and east Peace regions.
4: Central Coast, Haida Gwaii, eastern Pacific Range and Kettle.
Wildfires
199: wildfires still burning in B.C.
9: new wildfires sparked since Wednesday.
21.1: The percentage of wildfires that remain out of control.
Temperatures:
More than 150 maximum daytime temperature records were broken across British Columbia in September.
21.6 C: The high temperature on Oct. 13 in Victoria, 7 C above seasonal average.
22 C: The high temperature on Oct. 13 in Dawson Creek, 12 C above seasonal average.
— The Canadian Press
