Metro Vancouverites could see sunshine and hot temperatures over the Canada Day long weekend.
While Environment Canada's forecast confidence wanes after mid-next week (Wednesday, June 26 or Thursday, June 27), a ridge of high pressure is expected to build into the long weekend.
Meteorologist Ken Dosanjh tells V.I.A. that a ridge of high pressure is currently responsible for rising temperatures 6 to 7 C above seasonal averages, with places on the coast experiencing highs of 26 C or 27 C and inland ones up to 29 C on Friday, June 21.
Average daytime highs for mid to late June in Metro Vancouver sit at 19.5 C.
The ridge of high pressure also prevented smoke from clearing the area following a destructive fire in Richmond. Friday's air quality statement was lifted in the late morning but some in the air until some off-shore winds clear it out of the area in the evening.
Metro Vancouver weather forecast includes a cool shift
Warmer-than-average temperatures should cool slightly starting on Saturday, June 22. V.I.A.'s Weatherhood station shows a high of 23 C (compared to Friday's 26 C).
Dosanjh says showers are possible overnight Saturday and temperatures should shift toward a cooler trend starting Sunday. Most areas should see daytime highs close to seasonal (18 to 20 C).
Next week's forecast should include more unsettled weather, with a second chance for precipitation on Wednesday. Thursday may also see wet weather but skies could clear heading into Friday.
Dosanjh says Vancouver has nearly received June's average precipitation amount, meaning additional rainfall would be a bonus.
But there's no firm guarantee the weekend will see clearing conditions.
"From Thursday onwards, our solutions vary a lot," he notes. "It's a weak ridge heading into the weekend. [The ridge] would mean warmer temperatures. The [forecast confidence] is low but the ridge is promising."
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