WATCH: Victoria is set to break another weather record. Mary Griffin reports.
Earlier this summer, Victoria set a record for the most days without rain. From June 19 to Aug. 12, Victoria set a new record of 55 days without rain. Now, July and August are on target to become the driest ever in Victoria.
From June 19 to Aug. 12, Victoria set a new record of 55 days without rain. Now, July and August are on target to become the driest ever in Victoria.
Along Dallas Road at Beacon Hill Park, the grass is dry, brown and parched. Earlier this spring, the same area was green and luscious.
The last significant rain of 1.4 millimetres fell on Aug 14. Now the region is on the cusp of another record for July and August, according to Environment Canada Meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau.
“July and August together, those two months, our total rainfall is 1.4 millimetres. We didn’t see anything in July,” Charbonneau said. “And that ranks as the driest July and August on record.”
On his Saanich farm, Rob Galey looked at a muddy creek bed on Friday at Blenkinsop Creek.
“You can see the water line on the tree over there. I mean, we’re down right now probably three feet anyway,” Galey said. “And I don’t like seeing it like this.”
Galey says he’s never seen this creek run dry before.
“If this creek is dry, everything has to start drying up,” Galey said. “It’s one of the feeders for all the other systems going around in Saanich.”
In the heat, Galey’s berries are flourishing. His strawberries and blueberries are ripe and he is collecting one thousand pounds a day. Thanks to a micro-irrigation system, the soil is rich and Galey’s berry crops are healthy.
But he’d still like to see a change in the weather.
“We do have some reserves, and we are going to be OK. But I mean, at the same time, I mean, seeing all these forest fires, and everything else coming out,” Galey said. “I mean, enough is enough.
We need some rain here in B.C.”
That is not likely. Environment Canada is not forecasting any rain for the next week meaning another one for the record books.
Mary Griffin
