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Rainy July in Abbotsford delays water restrictions, for now

The month has been unseasonably wet and may remain so for some time
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Jule has been unseasonably wet for Abbotsford and things may not dry up until the end of the month.

There's a silver lining to the dark clouds that have rained on Abbotsford and the Lower Mainland over the recent days and weeks.

While the weather will likely continue to be less than ideal for camping and barbecuing for the short-term, it's not all bad news, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald.

"It's bit of a double-edged sword. It's a little discouraging to have the gloomy, cool weather, but from a drought perspective, and a forest fire perspective, it's excellent news," he said.

Abbotsford has seen more than half its usual July rainfall in the first 10 days of the month, at 24.9 millimetres. The average rainfall for July, the area's driest month is 43.2 mm.

Nearly half of that 24.9 mm of rain – approximately 12 mm – fell between midnight and 1:30 a.m. early Saturday morning.

MacDonald described the rainfall as a "tropical downpour" that was accompanied by 42 km/h gusts of wind and eight lightning strikes recorded in Abbotsford.

He said the storm didn't break any records but one of that strength typically comes along only once a year.

Abbotsford usually see rain on 11 of its 31 July days but this year, it has already had eight days.

Looking at the long range forecast, MacDonald said it is unlikely there will be any prolonged stretches of nice weather until at least the last week of July.

"Once we get back into the weekend, unfortunately it looks cool and showery – really April-like weather than we're seeing here in July."

The above-average rainfall have prolonged stage-one water restrictions currently in effect in Abbotsford. In the current stage, residents may water their lawn between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. twice a week. In stage two, this drops to once week.