TechGist05

The chart below shows the % chance of precipitation and the % of possible sunshine on any given day during the year in Victoria.  It's really striking how the likelihood of precipitation and sunshine form a mirror image of each other. Let's start by looking at the blue line - the chance of precipitation on any given day.  This starts in the 50-60% range during January and February, drops below 50% in March, and gradually declines until it reaches about 20% in June and early July.  Then we see something that is very distinctive of the climate in our area - a sharp drop down to about a 10% chance of rain on any given day from roughly the second week of July until mid-August.  That's definitely the time to plan your camping trip or outdoor event if you want to almost guarantee dry weather!  Beginning in mid-August, the chance of rain begins to increase, back to about 20% by the end of August, then gradually increases to about 25% by the end of September.  Unli...

I've already mentioned that Victoria is the sunniest place in B.C. and one of the sunniest cities in Canada.  Well, here's some more proof of just how sunny it is here.  I came across the following list of the sunniest months ever recorded in Canada.  (This is based on Environment Canada measurements from all ten provinces, but doesn't include locations in the territories  since some northern locations get 24 hour daylight in June and July.)  Amazingly, while the statistics came from hundreds of weather sites across Canada, Victoria Gonzales or Victoria Airport accounted for 5 of the 8 sunniest months on record, including the top 4 sunniest months ever recorded in Canada: Station Month Hours 1 Victoria Airport July 2013 432.8 2 Victoria Gonzales July 1985 426.0 3 Victoria Gonzales July 1958 424.7 4 Victoria Airport July 1985 421.5 5 Manyberries, AB July 1985 414.0 6 Cranbrook, BC July 1985 413.0 ...

Victoria has a well-known reputation for having the mildest climate in Canada, but fewer people seem to be aware that it is also among Canada's sunniest cities, with an average annual 2,203 hours.  Sunshine was measured at Victoria Gonzales from 1914 to 1988, so this average was calculated based on the most recent 30-year period (1958-88) rather than the standard 30-year climate normal period (currently 1981-2010). The Olympic Mountain rainshadow, discussed earlier for its impact on precipitation in Victora, also affects the amount of sunshine.  As winds flow down over the Olympics, the sinking air warms and dries, often resulting in a hole in the clouds.  In fact this is so prevalent that airplane pilots often use this "hole in the clouds" as part of the visual navigation in the region around Victoria. Victoria is the sunniest city in B.C. and one of the sunniest cities in Canada.  Compared with 2,203 hours at Victoria Gonzales, the Victoria Airport averages 2,109 h...