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
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Lyon-bound Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Montreal turns back midflight due to pressurization alert
Passengers heading from Montreal to Lyon, France on Friday were forced to return home and depart the next day after a pressurization indication was detected in flight.
The eight most expensive homes for sale in Ottawa this spring
Ottawa's ultra luxury housing market is blooming like the tulips this spring, with a significant increase in the number of homes sold worth more than $2 million.
$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.
B.C. pipeline company argues its 'haulers' are not trucks, for tax purposes
A contractor working on the Coastal GasLink pipeline has been denied more than $333,000 worth of tax rebates because pieces of machinery it purchased – and claimed were not trucks – were deemed sufficiently truck-like in B.C. Supreme Court.
Usyk beats Fury by split decision, becomes undisputed heavyweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
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.
Jesus is their saviour, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.