While smoke is currently blocking out the sun over Metro Vancouver, clouds are expected to take over the job this weekend.
Hazy skies are expected to remain for a couple more days, Environment Canada meteorologist Matt Loney tells V.I.A., with a shift in weather late Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday.
"We're well above normal for temperatures," Loney says of Thursday, Sept. 4, thru Saturday, Sept. 6. "We're not setting records, but it's still going to be 3 C to 7 or 8 C above normal."
Normal for this time of year are temps around 20 C; the highs for Metro Vancouver over the next three days are forecast to be between 23 C near the shoreline and up to 28 C in areas further inland (away from any sea breeze).
However, the current ridge of high pressure that's helping heat Vancouver and retain the smoke is expected to move on starting late Saturday.
The Saturday-Sunday shift
Things will begin to change late Saturday in two ways.
The first will be incoming cloud cover, followed by scattered showers, as a trough of low pressure pushes into the region.
"There's an upper trough edging closer," Loney tells V.I.A. "There's a lot of uncertainty once the trough comes into place."
While the clouds will arrive Saturday night, scattered showers aren't likely until the next morning.
"I think the chance is there for showers on Saturday night, but Sunday morning, there is a higher chance," Loney explains.
That said, the chance of showers is only around 60 per cent. However, at the same time, there's a chance for thunderstorms on Sunday as well, with heavy localized showers.
"The models aren't all in agreement," notes Loney.
While there's uncertainty with the clouds and precipitation, temperatures will be dropping. Highs on Sunday and afterwards aren't expected to pass 20 C anywhere in Metro Vancouver. Overnight lows are forecast to be 14 C.
Rain will take care of smoke, slowly
The second change will be the gradual exit of the Metro Vancouver smoke that's currently over the region. That could take a couple of days, Loney says.
While the ridge of high pressure that's holding in the smoke will move along, there won't be winds to push the smoke out from around Metro Vancouver. Instead, the showers will likely deal with the smoke, which takes longer.
"There's not a lot of wind associated with this system," says Loney of the upper trough coming through.
"It's going to be interesting how it unfolds."
