This unique B.C. place receives the most rainfall in all of North America

It is no secret that it rains a great deal in British Columbia. In fact, many of Canada’s rainiest places are located in the province.

With that being said, the amount of rainfall that some communities receive is far above the provincial average. Vancouverites have a penchant for complaining about the damp weather, but the city doesn’t make the top ten rainiest places in the province.

Henderson Lake

Located on Vancouver Island, Henderson Lake receives more rainfall throughout the year than any other place in North America. The soggy spot receives 7296 mm of precipitation annually – over 23 feet of rainfall. What’s more, the area holds the record for the most rainfall in a year ever: a jaw-dropping 9,307 mm fell in 1997.

But what makes this location so unique?

Vancouver Is Awesome spoke to Matt MacDonald, Meteorologist, Environment Canada, who explained what makes the area an anomaly.

“Locations that are exposed on the coast tend to receive the most rainfall,” he described. “Systems hit the land’s topography from off the ocean which rings out moisture.”

Henderson Lake is surrounded by mountains, and has a croissant-like shape. What’s more, the lake is near Barkley Sound.

“In cases where you have a bay, such as how Henderson Lake is on the inlet of Barkley Sound, you’ll have moisture streaming into the bay. This convergence causes higher levels of precipitation.”

Top Ten Rainiest Places in British Columbia

Many of the places with the most precipitation are located along B.C.’s coast or in a bay. Haida Gwaii has a number of especially damp spots, as well as Vancouver Island.

-Elana Shepert, Vancouver is Awesome