Unsettled weather for remainder of the week.
Storm clouds near Orrville in June during a Tornado Warning.
Sarah Bissonette
PARRY SOUND - Where July was an exceptionally dry month, August received nearly its monthly average of rainfall within just two days.
Environment Canada’s warning preparedness meteorologist Geoff Coulson said Friday and Saturday the Parry Sound District received 22 millimetres and 27 millimetres respectively. Since August 1, the district has received 65 millimeters. The monthly average is 74 millimetres.
“The lion’s share (of the monthly total) fell on August 10 and 11,” said Coulson Monday morning. “Previous to that, in August, we did have another pretty good rainfall and that was on August 5, where the area picked up about 12 millimetres.”
Coulson said the forecast remains unsettled for the rest of this week.
“For Wednesday and Thursday a slight chance of showers - 30 per cent to 40 per cent - and another cold front blowing in on Friday with a pretty good chance of showers for the whole area. At this point, the weekend looks to be more of a hit and miss variety. I think Saturday and Sunday the forecast is talking about a mix of sun and cloud and a 30 per cent chance of showers. It looks like the widespread shower activity for the coming week is more Tuesday afternoon and again on Friday.”
Last month was exceptionally dry. The entire region received between 10 and 15 millimeters of rain. The monthly average should be around 71 millimeters.
Coulson added that this last spell of rain was particularly beneficial to plants and trees, because is was over a longer period of time than it has been in recent weeks.
“I think (we’re) finally being able to see some beneficial response from the trees and the grasses and crops and things of that nature, because we did manage to string together more than just one day of rainfall,” he said. I know for areas around here - Toronto and north of Toronto - it was the idea that the initial rain softened the ground up a bit and then the subsequent rainfall that we got in the hours that followed, did have a better opportunity to soak in. As we saw for July, it being so much drier than normal, it’s hard to say if just the fact that we did pick up notable rainfall recently is enough to show much of a response in the agricultural community.”
The rainfall has lowered extreme Fire Danger Ratings in the Town of Parry Sound (to moderate) Seguin Township (high), Carling Township (moderate) and McDougall Township (high).