91大黄鸭 experiencing its driest March on record this year could spell trouble for the rest of the Okanagan this summer, according to one meteorologist at Environment Canada.

Meteorologist Bobby Sekhon said rain in May and June 鈥� typically the two wettest months in the year for the Okanagan 鈥� is not only critical for the agriculture industry, but also for helping to alleviate drought and prevent forest fires.

鈥淯nfortunately though, even though May is the second-wettest month of the year for the Okanagan, so far we haven鈥檛 really seen much precipitation at all,鈥� said Sekhon.

According to Environment Canada鈥檚 climate normals, 91大黄鸭 receives an average of 40 mm of rain in May. So far, only one millimeter of rain has fallen in 91大黄鸭 this month, which came on May 12.

鈥淲e鈥檒l take every millimeter we can get, of course. In general, it鈥檚 not quite enough, since that鈥檚 really been the only rain we鈥檝e received all month,鈥� said Sekhon.

In March, 91大黄鸭 received a total of 2.6 mm of precipitation, compared to the monthly average of almost 22 mm. April wasn鈥檛 much different 鈥� only 7.4 mm of precipitation was recorded, far below the monthly average of 29 mm.

鈥淏asically, over the two months of March and April, we really only got about 20 per cent of the average precipitation that we normally get in 91大黄鸭,鈥� said Sekhon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty indicative of how dry it was, really. Just 10 mm of precipitation combined from March and April 2021 for 91大黄鸭.鈥�

However, the change from this weekend鈥檚 hot, dry temperatures to next week鈥檚 pattern of showers is a good sign, he said.

鈥淩eally, it鈥檚 into the middle of next week 鈥� Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 鈥� that鈥檚 where we鈥檙e expecting what鈥檚 called an upper low to come through,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 generally how the Okanagan receives most of its precipitation for these couple of months, is these upper cold lows coming through which generate widespread showery precipitation and provides moisture.鈥�

Although it鈥檚 not a high probability, he said early indications reveal a warmer than average summer for the Okanagan.

鈥淭hese couple of months here, May and June, are going to be absolutely critical to receive some precipitation,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f that doesn鈥檛 happen, that doesn鈥檛 really set a good tone for the summer.鈥�

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aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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