London, ON Just Had Its Rainiest July Ever!

London, Ontario just shattered a 32-year-old weather record by logging its rainiest July ever! According to Environment Canada, the city plunged into new rainfall territory with 210 millimetres of precipitation, surpassing the old record of 204.6 mm set back in 1992. For a city that normally sees about 81 mm in July, this has been anything but ordinary.

Londoners, you probably didn't need official confirmation if you’ve been dodging puddles, tearing up soaked lawnmowers, or dealing with flooded basements this past month. And if you were keeping track, you'll note that the bulk of this water deluge fell during a nail-biting span of just four particularly soggy days.

One of the standout moments was thanks to the tail-end of Hurricane Beryl. On July 10, the city was bombarded by a monster storm dumping more than 50 mm of rain. Things didn’t get much better on July 15 and 16, as a combined total of 100 mm of precipitation rained down. To top it all off, on July 30, another 41.6 mm cascaded over the city.

These downpours weren’t just random acts of rain. They were part of what's known as 'training storms,' where one storm follows another like boxcars on a train, and some of these were simply slow movers that decided to hang around and turn your backyard into a local pond.

Interestingly, not every corner of Southwestern Ontario had to deal with Noah's Ark-level rains. While the band from Sarnia to London to Toronto was drenched, areas east of Lake Superior enjoyed relatively dry conditions. Windsor, Harrow, Amherstburg, and Chatham-Kent also got off easier, with average rainfall amounts.

Farmers and homeowners along that weather-beaten band probably weren’t loving this downpour. Gentle, scattered rains are far more welcome for crops and gutters alike. However, the city’s gardeners on the bright side likely found their plants flourishing.

Despite the torrential downfall, August looks like it’s finally giving Londoners a break with sunshine back in the forecast. But don't stash those umbrellas away just yet; after such an unusual July, it’s best to stay prepared for anything.

To sum it up, this record-smashing month of July was an extraordinary weather event for London, ON — one that meteorologists are still piecing together to understand if bigger forces are playing a role. So, here’s looking forward to clearer skies and a bit of breathing room from that relentless rain.