Soggy June start for B.C. but a quick turnaround with heat dome looming
A moisture-laden Pacific frontal system will provide the B.C. coast with a beneficial soaking into this week, but it won't last long as we're already eyeing a pattern change not far off that will see the return of heat
Soggy, unsettled weather has returned to the South Coast of B.C. to conclude this weekend, and will stick around part of this week.
A significant soaking rain is expected to develop Sunday morning and continue on Monday, prompting Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to issue a rainfall warning for parts of the Lower Mainland including Metro Vancouver.
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Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.
The rain, which could usurp monthly averages for some locales in just three days, will be a tremendous help to ease some of the current fire and drought risk. However, a return of heat and drier conditions in the not-so-distant future could reverse some of the progress made from the recent precipitation.
Rain arrives Sunday, continues into Monday
A large low-pressure system over the Gulf of Alaska will force several disturbances to pinwheel into the West Coast over the next couple of days. Rain will arrive Sunday morning and continue through Monday afternoon.
Plentiful moisture flowing in from the south qualifies as a relatively low-grade atmospheric river, providing the juice needed to fuel steady rains across much of southwestern B.C.
A rainfall warning is in effect for Metro Vancouver and parts of the Lower Mainland.
“Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads,” Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in its warning. “Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.”
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The heaviest rainfall will be on Sunday evening for the Fraser Valley, with rates of 3 mm an hour so that will raise the risk of localized flooding.
Widespread rainfall totals of 50-75 mm are expected across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, with higher totals expected at higher elevations and lower totals in the typical rain shadow regions.
These are impressive totals for June. Average rainfall totals for the month hover around 50 mm for Vancouver, with about 70 mm in an average June for Abbotsford and only 29 mm in the rain shadow over Victoria.
Even so, it’s likely that this rainfall event will fall far short of achieving any monthly rainfall records. Vancouver’s biggest monthly rainfall total for June stands at 142 mm, with a monthly mark of 83 mm in the gauge down in Victoria.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reports that the South Coast has seen 50-70 mm of rain over the past week. Raw and rainy weather is unpleasant at first, but it’s early June and we’re in wildfire season. Additional, steady rain on the way is great news to alleviate dryness and improve wildfire conditions.
CANADA'S WILDFIRES: Visit The Weather Network's wildfire hub to keep up with the latest on the active start to wildfire season across Canada.
Another system is headed to the B.C. coast on Tuesday to bring additional rain, but it will be weaker in comparison.
This unusual pattern is going to flip in a hurry and tilt conditions toward the hottest readings of the season.
A sharp ridge building over the western shores of North America will send daytime high temperatures soaring by the middle of the week and into next weekend. Readings could climb into the 30s for the Lower Mainland, with readings pushing 40 south of the border.
Thumbnail courtesy of Erik Witsoe via Unsplash.
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