BC Canada 1988-2012: 124 out of 143 stations last 5 years have been the coldest (or 2nd coldest) out of 25 years

Published on by sunshinehours1

The province of BC in Canada has really cooled off in the last 5 years. This post is an attempt to quantify it.

I am using data from Environment Canada monthly summaries. An example is here.

Some of the BC stations have  “normals” (anomalies) calculated by EC  based on the 1971-2000 average. (The D column in the summaries).

In 2013, there are 661 stations in BC reporting in the monthly summaries.  237 have normals calculated. 143 of those have data in all five of the 5 year periods from 1988 to 2012.

I calculated 5 year averages for each 5 year period : 1988-1992, 1993-1997, 1998-2002, 2003-2007 and 2008 to 2012.

And then I ranked them so that 1 would be the warmest and 5 would be the coldest. If there had been steadily rising temperatures from 1988 to 2012, the rank would be 5 4 3 2 1.

An example with a rank of 4 5 3 2 1 is Wardner Ktny Hatchery. Not quite a 5 4 3 2 1 ranking because it cooled a bit in 1993-1997 compared to 1988-1992.

The anomaly rose from .62C in 1988-1992 to 1.28C in 2008-2012.

Prov Stn_Name 1988-1992 1993-1997 1998-2002 2003-2007 2008-2012 Rank
BC WARDNER KTNY HATCHERY 0.62 0.07 0.79 1.07 1.28 4 5 3 2 1

So, how many of the 143 have a rank of 5 4 3 2 1? None.

Ok, how many of the 143 have a rank ending with 1 (meaning 2008-2012 was the warmest 5 year period)? One. Wardner Ktny Hatchery. As shown above.

How about those with a rank ending in 2 (meaning the most current 5 year period is the 2nd warmest? Two out of 143.

16 end with a 3 (meaning the most current 5 year period is the 3rd warmest).

42 end with a 4 (meaning the most current 5 year period is the 4th warmest).

82 end with a 5 (meaning the most current 5 year period is the coldest in the last 25 years)!!!!

124 out of 143 stations have the coldest or 2nd coldest 5 year period.

All 143 below:

Prov Stn Name 1988-1992 1993-1997 1998-2002 2003-2007 2008-2012 Rank
BC ABBOTSFORD A 0.47 0.54 0.57 1 0.31 4 3 2 1 5
BC ADDENBROKE ISLAND 0 0.05 0.16 0.67 -0.18 4 3 2 1 5
BC AGASSIZ CDA 0.41 0.42 0.29 0.77 0.16 3 2 4 1 5
BC ALBERNI ROBERTSON CREEK 0.41 0.46 0.44 0.49 0.25 4 2 3 1 5
BC ATLIN 0.58 0.19 1.01 1.01 0.05 3 4 2 1 5
BC BABINE LAKE PINKUT CREEK 0.84 0.04 0.66 0.99 0.85 3 5 4 1 2
BC BARKERVILLE 0.28 -0.09 0.09 0.44 -1.08 2 4 3 1 5
BC BELLA COOLA A 0.31 -0.43 -0.12 0.23 -0.25 1 5 3 2 4
BC BLUE RIVER A 0.48 -0.03 0.46 0.82 0.36 2 5 3 1 4
BC BOAT BLUFF 0.18 0.26 -0.27 0.28 -0.15 3 2 5 1 4
BC BONILLA ISLAND 0.24 0.63 0.17 0.74 -0.12 3 2 4 1 5
BC BRIDGE LAKE 2 0.34 -0.37 -0.05 0.24 -0.26 1 5 3 2 4
BC BURNABY SIMON FRASER U 0.44 0.44 -0.06 0.46 -0.13 3 2 4 1 5
BC CAMPBELL RIVER A 0.51 0.46 0.44 0.87 0.41 2 3 4 1 5
BC CAPE BEALE LIGHT 0.02 0.18 -0.2 0.41 -0.23 3 2 4 1 5
BC CAPE MUDGE 0.37 -0.18 0.17 0.54 0.27 2 5 4 1 3
BC CAPE SCOTT 0.23 0.66 0.08 0.4 -0.31 3 1 4 2 5
BC CARIBOO LODGE 0.35 -0.21 0.29 0.47 -0.63 2 4 3 1 5
BC CASTLEGAR A 0.35 0.06 0.56 0.8 0.1 3 5 2 1 4
BC CASTLEGAR BCHPA DAM 0.28 0.06 0.98 1.28 0.74 4 5 2 1 3
BC CHATHAM POINT 0.29 0.27 0.46 0.77 0.17 3 4 2 1 5
BC CHETWYND A 0.44 -0.69 0.16 0.44 -0.02 2 5 3 1 4
BC CHILLIWACK 0.19 0.04 0.13 0.57 -0.09 2 4 3 1 5
BC CHILLIWACK R HATCHERY 0.12 0.11 0.08 0.41 -0.36 2 3 4 1 5
BC COMOX A 0.38 0.31 0.32 0.66 0.06 2 4 3 1 5
BC COOMBS 0.01 0.22 0.23 0.78 0.46 5 4 3 1 2
BC COWICHAN LAKE FORESTRY 0.35 0.32 0.22 0.6 -0.67 2 3 4 1 5
BC CRANBROOK A 0.48 -0.14 0.52 0.74 0.18 3 5 2 1 4
BC CRESTON 0.24 0.17 0.74 1.13 0.27 4 5 2 1 3
BC DARFIELD 0.26 -0.24 0.5 0.74 0.14 3 5 2 1 4
BC DAWSON CREEK A 0.7 -0.36 0.42 0.55 0.01 1 5 3 2 4
BC DEASE LAKE 0.44 0.24 0.52 0.66 0.08 3 4 2 1 5
BC DRYAD POINT 0.16 0.3 -0.01 0.41 -0.39 3 2 4 1 5
BC DUNCAN LAKE DAM 0.37 0.09 0.57 0.81 0.11 3 5 2 1 4
BC EGG ISLAND 0.26 0.56 0.3 0.45 -0.11 4 1 3 2 5
BC ESTEVAN POINT 0.38 0.39 0.27 0.64 -0.15 3 2 4 1 5
BC FAUQUIER 0.5 0.03 0.54 0.76 -0.18 3 4 2 1 5
BC FERNIE 0.58 -0.08 0.64 1.13 0.44 3 5 2 1 4
BC FORDING RIVER COMINCO -0.14 -0.5 0.55 0.94 -0.63 3 4 2 1 5
BC FORT NELSON A 0.1 0.08 0.64 0.8 0.39 4 5 2 1 3
BC FORT ST JAMES 0.78 -0.02 0.47 0.8 0.2 2 5 3 1 4
BC FORT ST JOHN A 0.66 -0.28 0.54 0.58 0.13 1 5 3 2 4
BC FRASER LAKE NORTH SHORE 0.81 0.28 0.83 1.2 0.8 3 5 2 1 4
BC FT STEELE DANDY CRK 0.46 -0.11 0.32 0.89 0.04 2 5 3 1 4
BC GABRIOLA ISLAND 0.16 0.22 -0.17 0.45 -0.64 3 2 4 1 5
BC GERMANSEN LANDING 0.75 0.2 0.5 0.86 0.44 2 5 3 1 4
BC GIBSONS GOWER POINT 0.32 0.31 0.38 0.82 0.3 3 4 2 1 5
BC GLACIER NP MT FIDELITY 0.31 0.05 0.44 0.74 -0.31 3 4 2 1 5
BC GLACIER NP ROGERS PASS 0.35 0.12 0.52 0.9 -0.01 3 4 2 1 5
BC GOLD RIVER TOWNSITE 0.25 0.22 0.2 0.69 0.05 2 3 4 1 5
BC GOLDEN A 0.58 0.18 0.87 1.02 0.5 3 5 2 1 4
BC GOLDSTREAM RIVER 0.15 -0.42 0.38 0.49 -2.05 3 4 2 1 5
BC GRAND FORKS 0.41 -0.01 0.79 0.83 0 3 5 2 1 4
BC GREEN ISLAND 0.02 0.14 0.1 0.53 -0.12 4 2 3 1 5
BC HANEY EAST -0.16 0.28 0.32 0.83 0 5 3 2 1 4
BC HANEY UBC RF ADMIN 0.33 0.46 0.3 0.72 0.02 3 2 4 1 5
BC HIGHLAND VALLEY LORNEX 0.84 0.08 0.39 1.08 0.43 2 5 4 1 3
BC HIXON 0.58 -0.03 0.57 0.91 -0.3 2 4 3 1 5
BC HOPE SLIDE 0.5 0.03 -0.05 0.54 -0.13 2 3 4 1 5
BC JOE RICH CREEK 0.62 -0.04 0.7 0.98 -0.54 3 4 2 1 5
BC KAMLOOPS A 0.42 -0.13 0.65 1.02 0.5 4 5 2 1 3
BC KASLO 0.44 0.02 0.51 0.94 0.09 3 5 2 1 4
BC KEMANO 0.7 0.56 0.28 0.97 -0.5 2 3 4 1 5
BC KITIMAT 2 0.58 0.3 0.02 0.56 -0.68 1 3 4 2 5
BC KITIMAT TOWNSITE 0.72 0.53 0.41 1.01 0.06 2 3 4 1 5
BC KOOTENAY NP WEST GATE 0.21 0.01 0.63 0.71 0.26 4 5 2 1 3
BC LAIDLAW 0.28 -0.12 0.18 0.56 -0.37 2 4 3 1 5
BC LANGARA 0.25 0.34 0.02 0.5 -0.32 3 2 4 1 5
BC LITTLE QUALICUM HATCHERY 0.15 0.14 0.16 0.53 -0.1 3 4 2 1 5
BC LUNCH LAKE 0.35 -0.39 0.14 0.24 -0.47 1 4 3 2 5
BC MACKENZIE A 0.78 0.26 0.7 1.14 0.39 2 5 3 1 4
BC MALIBU JERVIS INLET 0.2 0.16 0.14 0.63 -0.02 2 3 4 1 5
BC MARYSVILLE 0.25 -0.09 0.61 1.08 -0.5 3 4 2 1 5
BC MCINNES ISLAND 0.2 0.51 0.18 0.51 -0.18 3 2 4 1 5
BC MCLEESE LAKE FRASERVIEW 0.08 -0.31 1 1.4 0.25 4 5 2 1 3
BC MCLEESE LAKE GRANITE MT 0.52 0.05 0.26 0.55 0 2 4 3 1 5
BC MERRITT STP 0.6 -0.01 0.69 1.08 0.47 3 5 2 1 4
BC MERRY ISLAND LIGHTSTATIO 0.3 0.43 0.21 0.76 0.35 4 2 5 1 3
BC MICA DAM 0.52 -0.02 0.64 0.72 -0.02 3 5 2 1 4
BC MISSION WEST ABBEY 0.24 0.45 0.17 0.43 -0.32 3 1 4 2 5
BC MUD BAY 0.32 0.4 -0.01 0.88 -0.55 3 2 4 1 5
BC MUNCHO LAKE 0.59 0.49 0.68 0.86 -0.24 3 4 2 1 5
BC N VAN SEYMOUR HATCHERY 0.21 0.15 0.12 0.27 -0.38 2 3 4 1 5
BC N VANC GROUSE MTN RESORT 0.44 0.22 0.93 0.96 -0.04 3 4 2 1 5
BC NANAIMO A 0.35 0.32 0.22 0.56 0.13 2 3 4 1 5
BC NASS CAMP 0.35 0.1 0.29 0.79 -0.05 2 4 3 1 5
BC NEW DENVER 0.46 -0.06 0.8 1.2 0.33 3 5 2 1 4
BC NITINAT RIVER HATCHERY 0.25 0.3 -0.23 0.38 -0.31 3 2 4 1 5
BC NOOTKA LIGHTSTATION 0.02 0.25 -0.15 0.29 -0.6 3 2 4 1 5
BC OLIVER 0.65 0.37 1.23 1.34 0.16 3 4 2 1 5
BC OLIVER STP 0.33 0.17 1 1.12 0.53 4 5 2 1 3
BC OOTSA L SKINS L SPILLWAY 0.9 -0.55 -0.3 0.46 -0.98 1 4 3 2 5
BC OSOYOOS WEST 0.44 -0.04 0.77 0.93 0.21 3 5 2 1 4
BC PACHENA POINT 0.37 0.98 -0.65 -0.15 -0.28 2 1 5 3 4
BC PEACHLAND 0.4 -0.07 0.34 0.61 0.26 2 5 3 1 4
BC PENTICTON A 0.46 -0.12 0.63 0.82 0.07 3 5 2 1 4
BC PLEASANT CAMP 0.18 0.29 0.26 0.44 -0.58 4 2 3 1 5
BC PORT ALICE 0.4 0.4 -0.03 0.49 -0.01 3 2 5 1 4
BC PORT HARDY A 0.35 0.42 0.21 0.63 -0.08 3 2 4 1 5
BC PORT MOODY GLENAYRE 0.31 0.4 0.05 0.24 -0.43 2 1 4 3 5
BC PORT RENFREW 0.33 0.44 0.22 0.7 0.05 3 2 4 1 5
BC POWELL RIVER A 0.34 0.34 0.25 0.48 -0.05 3 2 4 1 5
BC PRINCE GEORGE A 0.5 -0.01 0.56 0.81 -0.2 3 4 2 1 5
BC PRINCE GEORGE STP 0.25 -0.3 0.16 0.65 0.07 2 5 3 1 4
BC PRINCETON A 0.4 0.08 0.64 0.7 0.08 3 5 2 1 4
BC PUNTCHESAKUT LAKE 0.45 -0.22 0.55 0.58 -0.9 3 4 2 1 5
BC QUALICUM R FISH RESEARCH 0.35 0.26 0.4 0.78 0.38 4 5 2 1 3
BC QUATSINO 0.64 0.54 0.09 0.34 -0.62 1 2 4 3 5
BC QUATSINO LIGHTSTATION 0.12 0.32 -0.38 0.38 -0.24 3 2 5 1 4
BC QUINSAM RIVER HATCHERY 0.3 0.35 0.23 0.54 -0.21 3 2 4 1 5
BC RICHMOND NATURE PARK 0.31 0.32 0.32 0.37 -0.1 4 3 2 1 5
BC SAANICHTON CDA 0.27 0.38 0.31 0.58 -0.3 4 2 3 1 5
BC SALMON ARM A 0.32 -0.38 0.6 1.03 0.24 3 5 2 1 4
BC SALTSPRING ST MARYS L 0.29 0.34 0.48 0.7 0.15 4 3 2 1 5
BC SANDSPIT A 0.3 0.28 -0.01 0.47 -0.3 2 3 4 1 5
BC SARDIS 0.21 0.09 -0.26 0.16 -1.96 1 3 4 2 5
BC SEWALL MASSET INLET 0.13 0.4 -0.14 0.29 -0.33 3 1 4 2 5
BC SHAWNIGAN LAKE 0.5 0.36 0.22 0.78 -0.07 2 3 4 1 5
BC SMITHERS A 0.58 -0.12 0.26 0.66 0.14 2 5 3 1 4
BC SOUTH SLOCAN 0.77 0.38 0.97 1.27 -0.4 3 4 2 1 5
BC SPARWOOD 0.18 -0.48 0.43 0.77 0.12 3 5 2 1 4
BC SPOKIN LAKE 4E 0.04 -0.21 0.38 0.47 -0.16 3 5 2 1 4
BC SQUAMISH UPPER 0.47 -0.3 0.08 0.44 -0.12 1 5 3 2 4
BC STEWART A 0.16 0.09 0.1 0.38 -0.36 2 4 3 1 5
BC STUIE TWEEDSMUIR LODGE -0.01 0.01 0.28 0.64 0.04 5 4 2 1 3
BC SUSKWA VALLEY 0.27 -0.47 0.06 0.54 -0.68 2 4 3 1 5
BC TERRACE A 0.47 0.25 0.07 0.62 -0.08 2 3 4 1 5
BC TERRACE PCC 0.53 0.44 0.43 0.95 0.2 2 3 4 1 5
BC TOFINO A 0.36 0.49 0.07 0.69 0.13 3 2 5 1 4
BC TOPLEY LANDING 0.64 -0.04 0.38 0.96 0.18 2 5 3 1 4
BC VANCOUVER HARBOUR CS 0.3 0.62 0.32 0.22 -0.1 3 1 2 4 5
BC VANCOUVER INTL A 0.34 0.38 0.37 0.72 0.19 4 2 3 1 5
BC VANDERHOOF 0.23 -0.33 0.35 0.57 0.05 3 5 2 1 4
BC VAVENBY 0.38 -0.11 0.66 0.82 0.61 4 5 2 1 3
BC VERNON BELLA VISTA 0 -0.21 0.47 0.81 0.08 4 5 2 1 3
BC VICTORIA INTL A 0.15 0.5 0.43 0.78 0.06 4 2 3 1 5
BC WARDNER KTNY HATCHERY 0.62 0.07 0.79 1.07 1.28 4 5 3 2 1
BC WASA -0.16 -0.13 0.86 1.09 0.54 5 4 2 1 3
BC WESTWOLD 0.48 -0.07 0.94 0.9 0.2 3 5 1 2 4
BC WHISTLER 0.48 0.34 0.58 0.88 0.08 3 4 2 1 5
BC WILLIAM HEAD 0.36 0.58 0.68 0.9 0.3 4 3 2 1 5
BC WILLIAMS LAKE A 0.53 -0.16 0.51 0.7 0.22 2 5 3 1 4
BC WINFIELD 0.56 0.04 0.85 1.11 0.6 4 5 2 1 3

5 thoughts on “BC Canada 1988-2012: 124 out of 143 stations last 5 years have been the coldest (or 2nd coldest) out of 25 years”

  1. Intresting data! As a long time local weather observer(in Vancouver) I’ve definetly noticed a connection between cloudy spring weather in recent years with cooler temperatures.

    Reply

    1. Using same logic for Bright Sunshine % (100 = normal for 1971-2000) the rank is

      
Prov         Stn_Name 1988-1992 1993-1997 1998-2002 2003-2007 2008-2012      Rank
BC          COMOX A     99.47     99.97    101.41    108.88    106.44 5 4 3 1 2
BC VANCOUVER INTL A     98.45    103.79     99.81     95.62     95.97 3 1 2 5 4
BC  VICTORIA INTL A     99.97    103.16    100.56    106.07    101.89 5 2 4 1 3

      I know it isn’t just spring. I’ll try and change my code for each month/season some day.

      But Vancouver is definitely 4% below normal for the last 10 years.

      Reply

  2. Good work, sunshinehours! Averaging up your columns, it looks like the past 5 years marks the first time since 1987 that we’ve seen a below normal 5 year period,

    2008 to 2012 was colder than 1983 to 1987 period as well, which means a 5 year period this cold has not been seen in 30 years.

    The warmest 5 year periods on record (by my count):
    1) 2003-2007
    2) 1938-1942
    3) 1988-1992
    4) 1998-2002
    5) 1993-1997

    Coldest:
    1) 1948-1952
    2) 1893-1897
    3) 1908-1912
    4) 1918-1922
    5) 1913-1917

    Note how close together the coldest period and second warmest period are. The climate can change very quickly!

    Reply

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