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Rainfall, drought and wildfires by the numbers in British Columbia

VANCOUVER — British Columbia should be well into its rainy season, but instead persistent hot and dry weather has created drought conditions. Here are some of the numbers connected with the drought: --- Recorded rainfall between July and Oct.

VANCOUVER — British Columbia should be well into its rainy season, but instead persistent hot and dry weather has created drought conditions. Here are some of the numbers connected with the drought:

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Recorded rainfall between July and Oct. 14, compared with average rainfall:

Vancouver: Current 16 mm. Average 165 mm

Victoria: Current 2 mm. Average 100 mm 

Abbotsford: Current 10 mm. Average 222 mm

Chilliwack: Current 8 mm. Average 245 mm

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Drought levels

The B.C. government ranks drought levels from 0 to 5, with a 5 rating being the most severe with adverse effects to socio-economic or ecosystem values being almost certain.

5: All regions of Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, Lower Mainland, Fort Nelson, north, south and east Peace regions. 

4: Central Coast, Haida Gwaii, eastern Pacific Range and Kettle. 

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Wildfires

199: wildfires still burning in B.C. 

9: new wildfires sparked since Wednesday. 

21.1: The percentage of wildfires that remain out of control. 

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Temperatures:

More than 150 maximum daytime temperature records were broken across British Columbia in September.

21.6 C: The high temperature on Oct. 13 in Victoria, 7 C above seasonal average. 

22 C: The high temperature on Oct. 13 in Dawson Creek, 12 C above seasonal average.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2022.

The Canadian Press

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