Bonilla Island, British Columbia facts for kids
Bonilla Island is a small island in the Hecate Strait west of Banks Island. The island features a lighthouse and small forests.
History
The island was likely discovered by Spanish explorer Jacinto Caamaño, and named "Bonilla Island" for the hill on it. In 1912, plans to build a light beacon were made, and later in 1927 the unmanned beacon was created. Later in 1957, because of increased marine traffic, a lighthouse, three dwellings, and a fog horn were built.
Oceanographic research
The Bonilla Island light is one of 12 lighthouses part of the British Columbia Shore Station Oceanographic Program, collecting coastal water temperature and salinity measurements for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans everyday since 1960.
Climate
Bonilla Island has a rainy and mild Oceanic climate. (Cfb)
| Climate data for Bonilla Island (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.9 (64.2) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.5 (59.9) |
24.0 (75.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
28.5 (83.3) |
23.3 (73.9) |
22.0 (71.6) |
26.5 (79.7) |
18.0 (64.4) |
18.9 (66.0) |
14.5 (58.1) |
28.5 (83.3) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) |
6.9 (44.4) |
7.9 (46.2) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.6 (52.9) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.4 (59.7) |
16.0 (60.8) |
14.6 (58.3) |
11.6 (52.9) |
8.5 (47.3) |
7.1 (44.8) |
10.8 (51.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) |
5.0 (41.0) |
5.8 (42.4) |
7.5 (45.5) |
9.5 (49.1) |
11.8 (53.2) |
13.4 (56.1) |
14.0 (57.2) |
12.7 (54.9) |
9.9 (49.8) |
6.6 (43.9) |
5.3 (41.5) |
8.9 (48.0) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) |
3.1 (37.6) |
3.7 (38.7) |
5.2 (41.4) |
7.4 (45.3) |
9.7 (49.5) |
11.4 (52.5) |
12.0 (53.6) |
10.7 (51.3) |
8.1 (46.6) |
4.8 (40.6) |
3.4 (38.1) |
6.9 (44.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −13.3 (8.1) |
−14.5 (5.9) |
−11.5 (11.3) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
2.0 (35.6) |
5.5 (41.9) |
7.8 (46.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
4.4 (39.9) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−18.5 (−1.3) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−18.5 (−1.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 237.7 (9.36) |
176.8 (6.96) |
186.8 (7.35) |
164.2 (6.46) |
122.0 (4.80) |
98.4 (3.87) |
87.8 (3.46) |
112.6 (4.43) |
165.8 (6.53) |
252.1 (9.93) |
264.2 (10.40) |
271.6 (10.69) |
2,139.8 (84.24) |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
