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By Caden Fanshaw

Weather

2022 the 5th driest year on record for Prince George

Jan 5, 2023 | 4:59 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – After a wet start to 2022, the calendar year finished out in record-breaking fashion in terms of precipitation.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Prince George only received 74% of its normal precipitation in 2022, a total of 440 mm short of the regular 594 mm expected.

“We saw pretty normal precipitation amounts from January to June,” said Derek Lee, Meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. “It wasn’t really until July came that we had a very warm and dry summer, warm and dry conditions really continued for months and pretty much gave us an extended summer all the way up into October.”

Even those who regularly monitor water levels and the snowpack were shocked to learn the lack of precipitation over the calendar year. Dr. Stephen Dery, a Professor in UNBC’s Environmental Science department did note nothing should be surprising given climate change and the extremes it creates.

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Courtesy: Environment and Climate Change Canada

La Nina has significantly contributed to the unseasonably dry year with colder and drier than normal temperatures.