July was officially the wettest month in Ottawa’s history, with the rainfall total 318 per cent higher than the normal level last month. Environment Canada says Ottawa received 282 millimetres of rain in July, setting the record for the most precipitation in a month in the capital. The previous record was 250 mm set in 1899. The rainy July included 118 mm of rain on Canada Day, which flooded roads and more than 6,000 basements in Ottawa’s west end. The highest rainfall amounts on July 1 included 167 mm in Britannia, 151 mm in the Colonnade neighbourhood, 144 mm in Nepean, 117 mm in the Mooney’s Bay area, and 114 mm in St. Gabriel. Environment Canada says there was “another major rainfall event” in Ottawa at the end of July, with 85.7 mm of rain falling between July 27 and 29. The average temperature in Ottawa was 21.5 C in July, above the normal mean temperature of 21.2 C. The wet summer is expected to continue in Ottawa, with above-normal precipitation levels expected in August, according to Environment Canada. A total of 52.7 mm of rain was recorded at the Ottawa Airport Aug. 1-3, including 36 mm on Sunday. The monthly temperature forecast calls for normal temperatures in Ottawa through August. Dry July in Kingston While Ottawa set a rainfall record in July, Kingston saw less rain than normal last month. Environment Canada says Kingston received 55 mm of rain in July, compared to the normal rainfall of 64 mm. Toronto received 69 mm of rain last month, while the normal rainfall level in the Ontario capital is 74 mm.
