As much as 5.5 millimetres of rain fell in parts of Greater Victoria on Friday, ending a dry spell dating back to June 27.
Rain amounts varied around the region, with 4.06 mm reported at the Swan Lake weather station, 4.83 mm at Esquimalt High School, 0.76 mm at Butchart Gardens, and 5.08 mm at George Jay Elementary near downtown Victoria.
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After a record-breaking dry and sunny month of July it's raining in Victoria today. Drivers should be cautious as roads might be slippery. Showers are expected throughout the day, according to Environment Canada. Saturday is likely to be a mix of sun and cloud. Sunny weather will return Sunday.
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Blue skies dominate July, sunniest on record
July 2013 in Victoria has officially entered the record books as the sunniest July on record, with 432.8 hours of sunshine, leaving the old mark of 421.5 hours from 1985 in the summer dust.
The normal sunshine total for the month is 321.1 hours.
Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist said this past July also joined July 1958, August 1986 and September 1991 as precipitation-free months in the region’s charted weather history. Measurable precipitation was last recorded at Victoria airport on June 27.
The forecast calls for a 40 per cent chance of rain today, and Lundquist said there is a chance of thunderstorms over the next few days. Thunderstorm activity began Thursday off the west coast of the Island, he said, with a few lightning strikes reported just north of Cowichan Lake.
Despite the chance of rain, dry conditions throughout the Coastal Fire Centre area prompted a campfire ban as of Thursday.
The Coastal Fire Centre includes Vancouver Island and part of the southern mainland.
The extended forecast for Victoria calls for cloud on Saturday followed by a return to sunshine through Wednesday.
