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City sets record for single day of rain in January – Metro US

City sets record for single day of rain in January

A heavy rainfall, brought on by unseasonably warm temperatures, did more than make for a soggy commute yesterday.

It set a new rainfall record for Ottawa.

According to Environment Canada warning preparedness meteorologist Peter Kimbell, the Ottawa area received 41.1 millimetres of rain yesterday at the Ottawa International Airport — bringing the January total to 61.6 mm — the most it’s received in one day since 1889, according to Experimental Farm records. According to the same record, Ottawa received 40 mm of rain Jan. 15, 1995.

“That is a new record for one day of rainfall in the month of January,” said Kimbell.

But the most remarkable feature of this January is the low mean temperatures, Kimbell said.

This January, the average temperature is –7.3 C, whereas the normal mean temperature is –10.8 C.

Normally within the month of January, there are nine days of temperatures of –20 C or below, he said.

That hasn’t happened yet, he added.

“We haven’t had one day like that this year,” he said.

The coldest day this year measured –18.3 C at the Ottawa airport.

For those who like the milder weather, above average temperatures will stick around until Thursday night, when temperatures will go back to the seasonal normal for the weekend.

The mild temperatures are a result of a low pressure system that brought a lot of moisture over southern Ontario and east through Quebec.

“The weather is just variable,” said Kimbell. “This is just day-to-day stuff. Winter’s not over yet.”