Chilliwack (Roger Pannett – Environment Canada) – January 2021 Weather Data recorded by Roger Pannett, Volunteer Weather Observer for Environment Canada at Chilliwack, B.C.
Variable | January 2021 | 30 Year Average |
Mean Maximum | 7.57 C | 4.4 C |
Mean Minimum | 2.59 C | -1.5 C |
Mean Temperature | 5.08 C | 1.5 C |
Rainfall | 216.6 mm | 210.9 mm |
Snowfall | 2.0 cm | 52.8 cm |
Total Precipitation | 218.6 mm | 263.7 mm |
Days of Rain | 18 days | 15 days |
Days of Snow | 1 day | 7 days |
Total Days of Precipitation | 18 days | 19 days |
Frosts | 5 | 18 |
Relative humidity average | 78.18 % |
The mild & wet weather in late December continued to mid-January with three record breaking high temperatures on January 2nd & January 12th.
Date New Record Previous Record.
January 2nd High Min 7.0⁰C (+8.7⁰C) 6.1 ⁰C in 1964.
January 12th High Mean 10.45 ⁰C (+9.85 ⁰C) 9.0 ⁰C in 2010.
January 12th High Max 14.9 ⁰C (+11.6⁰C) 12.8 ⁰C in 1953.
The record 7.0 ⁰C high minimum temperature on January 2nd, equated to an average mid-May night-time temperature. In addition, the record high temperatures on January 12th occurred on the average coldest day of the year.
Until mid-month a series of moist Pacific frontal systems continued to invade southern B.C. Rainfall was heavy at times with copious amounts of mountain snowfalls. Overnight on January 12th/13th an ‘atmospheric weather bomb,’ produced heavy rain, strong gusty winds with temperatures spiking to the record breaking 14.9 ⁰C.
After mid-month a weak ridge of high pressure produced some welcome sunny days and frosty nights. The low temperature for the month was -3.2 ⁰C on January 23rd. The month concluded with a return to mild, rainy conditions.
Rainfall totals for the month were close to normal but snowfall was 96% below normal. (Only a 2.0 cm snowfall on January 25th with a cool air mass and a low- pressure system moving south east down the B.C. coast.)
With mean temperatures 3.58°C above normal, in excess of the + or – 2.6 ⁰C deviation, since 1997 only January 2008 & 2017 had below normal temperatures. It was the 15th consecutive month with above normal mean temperatures.
On January 31st, in Chilliwack, T sum was at 157.5 compared to the 30-year average of 37.1