Metro Vancouver heat forecast: hot and dry through August
Daytime highs reach 24°C on the coast and 29°C inland this weekend. Summer expected to be 80-90% above normal temperatures with below-normal rainfall.
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Metro Vancouver will experience unusually hot and dry conditions through meteorological summer, which runs June through August, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Jennifer Kowal.
This weekend will see the hottest temperatures, with daytime highs of 24 degrees Celsius on the coast and up to 29 degrees Celsius inland on Sunday and Monday. After this heat spike, an incoming system will bring temperatures back to seasonal average along with possible rain.
But the relief will be temporary. The most current seasonal forecast predicts the entire summer will be above normal for heat and below normal precipitation. "There is no variability from month to month. They all have an 80 to 90 per cent chance of [being hotter than normal]," Kowal said.
The forecast is particularly concerning given that winter and spring were already warmer and drier than normal. Low snowpack heading into wildfire season raises drought risks across the province, prompting BC Wildfire Service and other departments to prepare for impact.
While seasonal forecasts show overall trends, they don't predict specific events like storms or heat domes. The long-range outlook, however, allows emergency services and resource management agencies to position resources accordingly.