Post #250501

2026-02-09 17:04 UTC

Rain at #UVic in January was a bit above average 114 mm versus 95 mm. We observed some activity at the rain gauge on 22 days (versus 19 days). However, a number of the single rain gauge tips, about 0.25 mm were due to dew and frost, and collection from some heavy fogs. By coincidence, on the last three days of the month, we recorded the same amount of rain, 3.8 mm. There was no snow observed last month. 4/ #Saanich #VictoriaBC

Replies (1)

@edwiebe@mstdn.ca 2026-02-09 17:16

The last bit of data I found interesting has month has to do with mistaken perception and recollection of weather data. It is very well known in meteorological science [OK, citation clearly needed here] that human beings are poor observational data storage devices. This past month I demonstrated that to myself. When I sat down to write all of this up I had in mind that January was exceptionally sunny. It was not. I think what happened was that following a December that was a bit more dreary than usual, dreariness that continued to mid-January, the sunshine we did see then fell really, really good. What I recalled, and what is commonly recalled, is the sensation of experience, not any kind of realistic set of observations. In the plot, I'm showing all daily average January observations of insolation (incoming short-wave radiation). 2026 is shown with filled circles. The diamonds show the 'theoretical' maximum amount for each day. 5/ #UVic #Saanich #VictoriaBC

Open ##250585