Goodbye summer: 55 mm of rain expected for Metro Vancouver over 24 hours

Summer in Vancouver might be as good as dead. The latest forecast suggests that the West Coast will transition into fall this weekend, with as much as 55 mm of rain expected in parts of Metro Vancouver beginning tonight and into Saturday afternoon.

According to Environment Canada, temperature highs will dip into the mid teens as the week progresses and lows of 10°C will be reached by the middle of next week. A strong high pressure ridge over the Gulf of Alaska is pushing the jet stream and a low pressure trough into British Columbia.

Apart from a short break mid-week, wet conditions will continue throughout most of next week.

The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) previously anticipated the onset of La Nina this fall, but it has since said that the phenomenon is unlikely to materialize. Sea surface temperatures will hover in neutral between La Nina and El Nino, the phenomenon responsible for last year’s hot weather caused by an unusually large ‘blob’ of warm water in the Pacific.

This means the Pacific Northwest could expect normal or slightly above average fall and winter precipitation and temperatures. It also means heavy snowfall on the ski hills is less likely.

Vancouver International Airport

Image: Environment Canada

Abbotsford

Image: Environment Canada

Squamish

Image: Environment Canada

Whistler Village

Image: Environment Canada