Winnipeg on track to set precipitation record
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/08/2022 (296 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Winnipeg, already waterlogged before being hit by thunderstorms Thursday, is racing toward a new annual precipitation record.
Scott Kehler, president and chief scientist at Weatherlogics, said 32.8 mm of rain had fallen by 10 a.m., putting the total so far this year at 633 mm.
To date, it’s the 17th wettest year on record. If we get 90 mm more, we will tie the record, which was set in 1962.
ETHAN CAIRNS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Rain has dominated the weather this year unlike any other. Meterologists say even below-average precipitation between now and Dec. 31 is enough to set a record.
“Normally, we receive 166 mm from now until the end of the year, so even if it was drier than normal for the rest of 2022, we would still tie or break that record,” Kehler said.
The main reason for the high numbers was the series of Colorado lows in winter and spring, and thunderstorms this summer.
“In the winter and spring, we had an active weather pattern, which saw a number of troughs of low pressure coming in off the Pacific generating large weather systems that gave us a lot of rain and snow.”
The precipitation has wreaked havoc on Manitoba’s farms.
“It’s definitely affecting us in terms of certain vegetables starting to show signs of rotting and disease in the soil,” said Chad Wiens, vegetable farmer at Slow River Gardens. “If we get more rain in the next few days or if the water doesn’t evaporate, we’ll definitely see more vegetables start to rot.”
This year is a change from the previous two for Wiens, who had to constantly irrigate his fields to battle dry conditions.
“It’s much easier to keep something wet than it is to dry out a field. Last year, we had more control over the situation because we were able to water as we needed.”
Wiens normally likes to start planting early in May, but couldn’t until June due to the spring floods.
ETHAN CAIRNS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
The precipitation has wreaked havoc on Manitoba’s fields and farms.
Lacoste Garden Centre also experienced a drop in production this spring due to the wet weather.
“Spring is the peak season for garden centres, so we certainly felt it this year. When we get a lot of rain, it kills sales,” Jordan Hiebert, co-owner of Lacoste, said. “When it rains, your sales are going to drop that day or those days following pretty hard.”
Hiebert said business hasn’t been bad this summer for the garden centre, but its landscaping department has taken a hit.
“Sometimes you’re rained out a week and it backs everything up. I think we’re all looking forward to more consistent weather. The extremes on either end, if it’s too dry or too wet, aren’t great.”
bryce.hunt@freepress.mb.ca
