Did Toronto break a rain record in April? It depends where you're looking
If you thought this past April felt especially rainy in Toronto, you’re not wrong.
Environment Canada says 135.5 millimetres of rain, mixed with snow, fell at Pearson International Airport last month, which beats the previous record of 133.8 mm set in April of 1992.
However, the records at the site west of the city only go back to 1938.
According to Peter Kimbell, a meteorologist with the federal weather agency, Toronto’s own weather records – which date back to the 1800s – show the rainiest April in the city was actually in 1929.
“At [Pearson] airport, yes it's a record. But, it’s a record because our statistics only go back to 1938,” Kimbell said. “If you want to open your eyes to what happened before that, the downtown site was very close to a record, but it was a beaten out a little bit by 1929.”
A total of 153 mm of rain was recorded at the downtown site last month, but Kimbell said there was “slightly more” in 1929.
Regardless of whether or not the city broke a record, the total rainfall in April was certainly above average. Historically, Toronto averages 68 mm of rain during the month.
April 3 and April 11 were especially rainy. In fact, the city saw 32 to 33 mm of rain on each of those days, with a rainfall warning being issued by Environment Canada on April 11.
“There alone, those two days, would add up to practically a full month of rain. So those two days basically are why we got so much rain,” Kimbell said.
So will the rain continue into May? Kimbell said it’s hard to say.
“Precipitation is notoriously difficult to forecast beyond a few days. So I don’t really want to speculate,” he explained.
Over the next week, there are only two days, Monday and Tuesday, that aren’t calling for a chance of rain. The good news, however, is that temperatures will be on the “warmer side,” Kimbell said, with highs of 25 and 24 C on Wednesday and Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Evacuation orders lifted in Fort McMurray Saturday as rain dampens wildfire activity
Residents of Fort of McMurray who were displaced over wildfire concerns were told to return home Saturday.
Member of Israel's War Cabinet says he'll quit June 8 unless there's new war plan
Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israel’s three-member War Cabinet, threatened on Saturday to resign from the government if it doesn't adopt a new plan in three weeks' time for the war in Gaza.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Scottie Scheffler, from the course to jail and back: What to know about his PGA Championship arrest
Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was arrested after police say he dragged an officer while trying to get around the scene of a fatal accident Friday ahead of the second round of the PGA Championship.