August 2022 Summary

A hot month that completed the second driest summer on record

After 2 months that were colder than average, the month of August came in a bit more than 1 degree higher than average.  This is not surprising with 5 days above 30°C compared to the average of only 2 and only a few very cold days.

We only received 44.8 mm of precipitation, which is just a little more than half the average of 83.9 mm.  This made it the driest August since 2010 and put the total precipitation so far in 2022 of 386.7 mm closer to the average of 596.0 mm.  This is the sixth driest first 8 months of the year that we have seen in the region.

The total precipitation for this year’s meteorological summer (June, July, and August) was 112.1 mm.  This is the second lowest total precipitation for these months in the over 100 year history of records in the region, the only drier summer was in 2007 when there was only 74.5 mm.

Summary for August 2022:

Maximum Temperature 31.5°C
Minimum Temperature 6.4°C
Average Daily High Temperature 27.3°C (Long term average 24.8°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 12.5°C (Long term average 12.9°C)
Total Precipitation 44.8 mm (Long term average 83.9 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1981-2010 data for the Waterloo-Wellington Airport)

July 2022 Summary

The fifth driest July ever recorded in the region and the driest since 2001

**Note that the UW Weather Station’s main controller stopped working at the end of January, we have received a replacement and are currently setting it up, the data for this month’s summary comes from readings taken at the Waterloo Regional Airport**

For the second month in a row, the much above average daytime temperatures were balanced out by the much below average nighttime temperatures.  The result was an overall temperature that was just 0.1 degrees below average, which is within the average range.  

Although there were 8 days at or above 30°C compared to an average of 3.6, including 6 of them in a row, it was still the coolest July since 2014.  

As always, the lawns and gardens around town showed just how dry it was during the month.  With only 18.7 mm of total precipitation, it was the fifth driest July in the region since began over 100 years ago (with a special shout out to 1916 when only 1.8 mm was recorded, although the 3rd day of the month was missing) and the driest since 2001.

Also, there was some talk during the month about storm systems which came through Southern Ontario that would split or fade out before hitting Waterloo region.  Well according to the map below of the precipitation anomaly from Environment and Climate Change Canada for July, there is a bulls-eye of brown indicating that our region was the most below average in all of Southern Ontario.  So maybe it wasn’t just our imagination.

The very dry month put the total for the year of 341.9 mm now even further below the average of 509.0 mm.

Summary for July 2022:

Maximum Temperature 33.6°C
Minimum Temperature 7.1°C
Average Daily High Temperature 27.8°C (Long term average 26.0°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 12.1°C (Long term average 14.0°C)
Total Precipitation 18.7 mm (Long term average 98.6 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1981-2010 data for the Waterloo-Wellington Airport)

June 2022 Summary

A dry June with average temperature 

**Note that the UW Weather Station’s main controller stopped working at the end of January, we have received a replacement and are currently setting it up, the data for this month’s summary comes from readings taken at the Waterloo Regional Airport**

 With 6 days above 30°C compared to the average of only 2 and a high of 34.1°C on the 21st, it might be assumed that it was a much hotter than average month.  Although that was true for the daily high values (1.3 degrees above average), the daily low temperature were very much below average (by 2.3 degrees).  Overall, the temperature was half a degree below average which still keeps it in the average range.  

Just a little more on that 34.1°C high on the 21st, that was the highest temperature since the 34.5°C on July 9, 2020 and it was also the highest June temperature since June 27, 2005 when it was 34.9°C.

About half the precipitation for the month fell in the first week, followed by almost 2 weeks of no rain.  At just 48.6 mm of total precipitation it was the driest June since 2007.

As there has only been one above average month of precipitation this year (February) it isn’t surprising that the total precipitation we have seen in the first half of the year of 323.2 mm is well below the average total of 416.1 mm.

Summary for June 2022:

Maximum Temperature 34.1°C
Minimum Temperature 3.8°C
Average Daily High Temperature 24.9°C (Long term average 23.6°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 9.2°C (Long term average 11.5°C)
Total Precipitation 48.6 mm (Long term average 82.4 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1981-2010 data for the Waterloo-Wellington Airport)

May 2022 Summary

A hot and dry May 

**Note that the UW Weather Station’s main controller stopped working at the end of January, while we are waiting for a replacement, the data for this month’s summary comes from readings taken at the Waterloo Regional Airport**

After the first week, which was close to average, the rest of the month was mostly well above average including 5 days above 25°C from the 11th to the 15th and the first day over 30°C on the last day of the month.  Overall it was 1.3 degrees above average, making it the warmest May since 2018.

Assuming we have seen the last below zero temperature until the fall, the last freezing day was May 8th, this is just a day later than the average in the last 20 years.  

It was dry for most of the month, including a 10 day period with no measured precipitation.  With only 2 days that had more than 10 mm of rain, it is not surprising that at 60.6 mm the total precipitation was well below the average of 82.3 mm.

This dry month puts the total for the year so far at 274.6 mm, well below the average of 340.2 mm.

Summary for May 2022:
Maximum Temperature 31.1°C
Minimum Temperature -1.7°C
Average Daily High Temperature 20.6°C (Long term average 18.5°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature 6.9°C (Long term average 6.4°C)
Total Precipitation 60.6 mm (Long term average 82.3 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1981-2010 data for the Waterloo-Wellington Airport)

April 2022 Summary

A cold and dry April 

**Note that the UW Weather Station’s main controller stopped working at the end of January, while we are waiting for a replacement, the data for this month’s summary comes from readings taken at the Waterloo Regional Airport**

As is typical during the Spring, the temperature we saw during April was a bit of a roller coaster ride from low single digit to mid-20 highs.  The high of 25.9°C on the 24th was the second highest April temperature in the last 10 years.  However, overall the temperature was almost a degree below average, putting it in the below average range.

The little precipitation we had during April was spread pretty evenly over the month.  The maximum daily precipitation of 11.4 mm on the 21st was the (stay with me here) lowest maximum daily precipitation in the last 10 years.  It stands to reason then that the total precipitation of 42.8 mm was well below the average of 74.5 mm and in the below average range.

This dry month brings the total of the year (214.0 mm) to much less than the average at this time of year (264.4 mm).

The total snowfall that came down during the month of 7.0 cm was very close to the average of 7.3 cm.  This put the total for the snowfall season at 176.5 cm, well above the average of 159.7 cm and perhaps this is the last time I’ll mention snow until the Fall (or did I just jinx it).

Summary for April 2022:

Maximum Temperature 25.9°C
Minimum Temperature -5.9°C
Average Daily High Temperature 10.9°C (Long term average 11.5°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature -0.5°C (Long term average 0.8°C)
Total Precipitation 42.8 mm (Long term average 74.5 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1981-2010 data for the Waterloo-Wellington Airport)