August 2025 Marks One of the Driest Months on P.E.I.

August 2025 has been recorded as one of the driest months in the history of Prince Edward Island, with rainfall totals significantly below average. Most areas on the island received between 10 to 35 millimetres of rain, far less than the typical 96.3 millimetres expected at the Charlottetown Airport over the same period, as reported by Environment Canada for the years 1991 to 2020.

According to CBC meteorologist Ryan Snoddon, the total rainfall at the Charlottetown Airport for August 2025 was just 12 millimetres. While Snoddon initially suspected this could be the driest August on record, he noted that the airport experienced only four millimetres in August 2001, which still stands as the lowest.

Rainfall across the island varied, with some areas experiencing heavier downpours due to localized thunderstorms. For example, Glencoe, located near Vernon River in eastern P.E.I.’s Kings County, recorded an impressive 84 millimetres of rain during the month, primarily from a single thunderstorm that dropped 77 millimetres in one event.

The overall impact of the dry conditions extends beyond August. Seasonal rainfall totals for June, July, and August at Charlottetown Airport amounted to 159 millimetres, representing just 59 per cent of the normal summer average of 269 millimetres. Volunteer rainfall stations across the island reported totals ranging from 120 to 190 millimetres, which corresponds to 50 to 70 per cent of the expected 230 to 270 millimetres typically accumulated in summer months.

Looking ahead, Snoddon indicated that the island can expect continued dry conditions, with the next potential for rain not anticipated until the weekend. The ongoing dry spell raises concerns about water supply and agricultural impacts as farmers monitor their crops during this unusually parched summer.