Frost reared its ugly head at least a few times last month, taking a toll on Prince George gardens, but aside from a few cool and wet days, September weather was warmer and drier than normal.
Rooves of houses turned visibly white with frost in the city on Sept. 12, when the mercury plunged to 0.1 C. The first overnight freezing temperature of the month happened on the 20th, when a low of -2.2 C was recorded. It hit -1.6 on the 26th and reached -1.7 on the 30th of September.
It took a long time for the spring thaw, and July was cool and wet, but after a warm September, the flowers are still alive and still blooming in some city gardens
"If you've still got tomato plants out there that haven't been killed by frost yet, you're lucky," said Jim Steele, of Environment Canada. "It's not the longest frost-free period in Prince George but if they are up against the house with a southwestern exposure, that's where I'd be planting mine."
Temperature readings are recorded at the Prince George Airport, which is at a higher elevation than most of the city, away from structures that trap heat, which sometimes results in cooler readings.
On average, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, Prince George has a 91-day growing season, and that frost-free period is from June 4 to September 3.
"The further you get away from the city, or if it's in a lower area, you'll get frost earlier," Steele said.
"[Temperature readings] are done a metre-and-a-half above ground, so if it's a clear calm night down to one or two degrees you can get frost."
Ranging from a high of 26.4 C on Sept. 8 to a low of -2.2 on Sept. 20, the average temperature for month was 18 C, well above the city's average of 16.4 C. The average low of 4.1 C was close to the 3.8 C September average, with a mean temperature of 11.1 C, one degree above normal. After a cool start to the month, nine days of above normal weather followed until the rain arrived on the 15th of the month and temperatures after that remained close to normal for the month.
There were eight days in September when rain fell on the city, as compared to the average of 13 days. The total precipitation for the month was 75.6 millimetres, 144 per cent of the normal 52.5mm. All of that came in the form of rain, and most of that fell from the sky from Sept. 21 to 24, when the city received a 61mm drenching. So far this year, the city has received 453mm of precipitation, 102 per cent of the annual norm of 442.4.
The city averages 0.6cm of snow in September but no measurable flakes fell last month.
"So far so good, but you could see it snow anytime in October," said Steele.
PULLOUT BOX
Frost-free range
How the average growing season of Prince George compares with other Canadian cities.
Prince George91 days
Vancouver221
Prince Rupert156
Kelowna156
Kamloops 156
Calgary114
Edmonton138
Yellowknife110
Winnipeg 119
Prince Albert93
Toronto149
Montreal156
Halifax166
St. John's 131
Source: Old Farmer's Almanac
