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Metro Vancouver enjoyed a relatively mild start to winter, but the past couple of weeks have seen frigid temperatures and plenty of snowfall.
In fact, the area has seen some unusually cold temperatures. According to Environment Canada’s weather data for the month of February, the average temperature is a low of one degree. The region has seen temperatures as low as minus nine this month, with a wind chill of minus fourteen.
Vancouver Is Awesome spoke to Carmen Hartt, Meteorologist, Environment Canada, who explained just how exceptional February has been.
"It isn't one particular day that makes the amount of snowfall impressive - it is the cumulative affect," she describes.
"For example, we just saw a system bring in a significant amount of snowfall on Sunday, and we are being hit with another one again."
As a result of the accumulation, February's total snowfall amount is shaping up to be quite high.
"A number of days have broken records already, and, even the ones that haven't, come close," she notes. "For instance, Sunday had 10 cm of snowfall, which made it the second highest February 10 amount to date. Monday also had the highest snowfall to date, but it was 5.6 cm"
Hartt also notes that there's a chance that Vancouver could have the highest snowfall in one day in over ten years today, depending on how much more it snows. December 2012 saw a whopping 19.8 cm in one day, and Boxing Day 2008 saw an impressive 15.6 cm.
Nevertheless, the month's total snowfall accumulation is unusual. The average amount of snowfall for February is 6.3 cm; Metro Vancouver has received 22 cm and counting, which is over triple the average.
And what day has the overall record?
December 29, 1996 saw an astounding 41 cm of snowfall in one day. So, we still have a way to go before we set an all-time high.
