Toronto's rainiest summer in 70 years

by Rob Peters | August 11, 2008 at 10:01 am

1888 views | 10 Recommendations | 20 comments

We all know Torontonians want to be like Vancouverites, but this summer they've gone too far. The centre of the universe recorded five times as much rain as Vancouver during June and July, and was the second wettest major city in the entire country this summer. Luckily, however, weather experts are saying August and September in Toronto will be drier than normal.

Should we wet coasters be flattered?

Frustrated Torontonians are not exactly singing in the rain about the news that officially, this is Toronto's wettest summer on record.

"We'll remember this summer not as the summer from hell, but of disappointment," said David Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment Canada.

"People are feeling that it doesn't matter if they save money on air conditioning or that they're healthier because there's no smog. It's just too wet and stormy."

Around 3 p.m. Saturday, the record for June 1-Aug. 31 rainfall – 335.9 millimetres set in 1986 – was broken. But it didn't stop there.

As of midnight on Saturday, 354.2 millimetres of rain had been recorded at Pearson International Airport from June 1 to Aug. 9.

"Every day we get rain we're just going to continue to break the previous record until Aug. 31," Phillips said.

It's also already the wettest January-to-August period recorded at Pearson in 70 years, with 705 millimetres of precipitation. The next closest is 679.3 millimetres in 1945.

"What's remarkable about this is the contrast with last year, which was one of our worst droughts," Phillips said.

The weather has also been fickle, with bouts of sunshine and rain in the same day. From June 1 to Aug. 10, it has rained on 41 of 71 days, but there have been only four days without sunshine since May.

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RhodesBadBoy

at 11:45 on August 11th, 2008

It has definitely been one of the rainiest summers that I can ever recall. Being an amateur photographer particularly with landscapes you want to get out there and just snap away. Decided to go down to the Addamson Estate in Mississauga, great location for pictures and decided to snap of six vertical images and stitch them together in Photoshop. 10 minutes later I was running for cover to protect my gear. We have to see some sun during this summer.

RhodesBadBoy has contributed a photo to this story.

faith spitz

at 11:53 on August 11th, 2008

Just before a major storm.

faith spitz has contributed a photo to this story.

ehacke

at 12:49 on August 11th, 2008

Looking off the balcony of my condo it was sunny and looked like a nice day for a walk. However, within the time it took me to put on shoes and get downstairs it was pouring rain. After a dash to the car for protection I decided to turn the walk into a drive.

3 minutes and 1.8 km later the sun was out again.

ehacke has contributed a photo to this story.

alfred ng

at 13:19 on August 11th, 2008

Well, with all the rain which we have less smog this summer. Our garden looks great, plus the sun always come out after the rain just made the days more interesting. We still have not turn on the air conditioning this year yet!

Ewpea

at 13:58 on August 11th, 2008

A rainy day... a rainy week... a rainy month... a rainy season.

Ewpea has contributed a photo to this story.

Tomitheos

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:31 on August 11th, 2008

Rob Peters, this story is good stuff. and this is so true, it has really been a soggy summer!

But unlike Vancouver it was sunny in Toronto while it rained making it a very rainbow-ish summer and yes it was rather strange, but there would be sunshine with pelting raindrops. go figure!

wmacphail

at 18:37 on August 11th, 2008

A group of friends on a rainy night on Queen Street in Toronto near Spadina Avenue.

wmacphail has contributed a photo to this story.

Merzetti

at 19:26 on August 11th, 2008

it has been ridiculous.

Merzetti has contributed a photo to this story.

brian toronto

at 22:04 on August 11th, 2008

Another rainy everning in downtown Toronto (Aug. 2008)

brian toronto has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 00:44 on August 12th, 2008

Simones Photography

at 15:56 on August 12th, 2008

Not only have we've been getting alot of rain, but also alot of fierce thunderstorms. Toronto had a Tornado watch at one point....a Tornado watch! can you believe it! I remember that day and how I was just a tiny bit excited about it, well, seeing that I've never witnessed a real one before it really was a little exciting.

"Toronto's rainiest summer in 70 years" is a good article, I liked it.

Simones Photography has contributed a photo to this story.

matthewhurford

at 08:41 on August 13th, 2008

We were driving down the 401 when the rain came out of no where. (This was taken near 401 and Kennedy.) I Quickly grabbed my camera and took this shot to show how thick the rain was.

Matthew Hurford - Toronto

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BoulderRunner

at 11:03 on August 13th, 2008

This was just after the rain that happened mid-morning.

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Tiago.Menezes

at 23:42 on August 13th, 2008

If Im not wrong - on that day (the 24th of April) - those were the first rains of the year. I remember thinking that I have never experienced such a rain fall during such a short period of time.

In the morning the day was clear and the sun was really shining all everybody was wearing t-shirts and shorts... The rain came from nowhere and so fast that no one had time to react. Like this man on the photo, many in Toronto just decided to keep walking on the rain.

Tiago.Menezes has contributed a photo to this story.

balhamblonde

at 00:30 on August 15th, 2008

Sunday 20th July, we arrived at the Royal Fairmont Hotel in torrential rain! Promised a room with a view...didn't realise that the view would only last for around 5 minutes before the clouds completely covered it! This photo is from the hotel bedroom moments before the tower disappeared. We went for a walk later when it seemed to be clearing up, however, we were well caught out and arrived back at the hotel soaked to the skin. However, you have a totally beautiful city, vibrant, diverse...don't be afraid of a bit of rain....we come from London, plenty of summer rain here too.

balhamblonde has contributed a photo to this story.

cassandrajowett

at 18:53 on August 15th, 2008

Shortly after an Argos game on yet another rainy day in Toronto during the summer of 2008, the CN Tower was barely visible due to low-lying fog that appeared near dusk.

cassandrajowett has contributed a photo to this story.

mitch.harri

at 21:19 on August 15th, 2008

It was a dark dark Monday morning. I hate Mondays. I was caught in the rain on Queen St in Toronto near Ossington. I was looking down from the steps of MOCCA. I was inspired.
That's all I remember!

mitch.harri has contributed a photo to this story.