April had fewer showers and was warmer than normal throughout the Cariboo.
This, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada, reports that Quesnel and Williams Lake were half a degree to one degree on average warmer through the spring month.
“Just looking at the temperatures in Quesnel, the average was 6.6 degrees, compared to the expected average of 6.1,” says Meteorologist Colin Fong. “Down in Williams Lake, the average temperature for April was 6.2, compared to what’s normal is 4.9 there.”
Not only was the average monthly temperature higher, but the average daytime highs were a degree and a half higher. Quesnel rose to 14.5 degrees, which is expected to be 13. Williams Lake rose from 11 degrees to 12.7 degrees.
Two days in both cities created a new second warmest days, but no new records for rise in temperature or precipitation were recorded.
“Williams Lake was also drier than Quesnel, too,” Fong said. “They only received five millimetres of rain, much drier than the expected 22 millimetres. Only 22 per cent.”
Quesnel’s average precipitation lowered from 26 millimetres to 22 millimetres for the month of April.
Fong attributes the warmer temperatures to several potential reasons, namely the days becoming longer as summer approaches. He says this trend of getting warmer as the months go will continue into May.
“There could be some cooler weather peppered in between the warmer periods in this cycling pattern. But the warmer periods are getting longer and longer. So any precipitation going through these months are going to be crucial, not only to mitigate wildfires, but also the signs of drought, and more damage to local wildlife.”
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