Metro Vancouver doesn’t have much time left to soak in the sunshine because a “major change” in weather is on the way in the form of wet snow and very cold temperatures.
Daily Hive spoke with Lisa Erven, a meteorologist with Environment Canada and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), to learn more about what folks should prepare for with this blast of colder and wetter weather.
The region will see “light precipitation” throughout the day on Thursday with “temperatures in and around zero,” said Erven.
ECCC
The type of precipitation could range from rain showers or flurries throughout the day, but “amounts will remain quite minimal,” she added.
However, things may change during the evening as precipitation rates are expected to pick up after 4 pm.
Freezing levels will remain low, and ECCC is anticipating that higher areas of terrain around Metro Vancouver, such as Burnaby Mountain and the higher neighbourhoods of West and North Vancouver, will receive around two to four centimetres of snowfall, explained Erven.
How long will this weather last?
EB Adventure Photography/Shutterstock
If you’re wondering if the sunshine and clear will make an appearance next week, Erven advised that likely won’t be the case.
“Behind this weather system, we’re actually going to see a drastic drop in temperatures,” she stated.
This is due to an Arctic ridge of high pressure moving down from the Yukon. This cold air will impact the northern and central parts of the province before making its way to the South Coast on Sunday night.
“And so the start of [the] next work week, we’ll see temperatures that are quite a bit below normal with overnight lows potentially getting down to -10°C,” she noted.
While Thursday’s precipitation will taper off into rain on Friday, the weekend could see another low-pressure system that will bring bursts of “intermittent” snow to Vancouver Island. This system could make its way to Metro Vancouver and continue through early to mid-next week.
It’s safe to say you’ll want to keep your jackets and mittens handy as it looks like the first real taste of winter is on its way.