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Stormy weather: Vancouver forecast calls for up to 70 mm of rainfall, risk of thunderstorm

Environment Canada also calls for strong winds.
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Environment Canada calls for powerful winds, thunderstorms, and rainfall in its Metro Vancouver weather forecast for Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

Storms are brewing in the Metro Vancouver region.

Following some strong winds on Friday (Feb. 3), the weekend was relatively quiet, with some showers and milder temperatures.

On Monday, however, Environment Canada calls for rain all day long, going so far as to issue a rainfall warning.

Up to 70 mm is expected to fall over the next 24 hours; the warning includes the City of Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and North Vancouver. Winds gusting up to 30 km/h are also expected during the day and night.

Following this, Tuesday's forecast includes some decidedly stormy weather, with rain and a risk of a thunderstorm in the afternoon as well as winds gusting up to 30 km/h. The winds are expected to die down later in the afternoon, while the evening forecast is cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers. 

Wednesday's forecast includes a 30 per cent chance of showers during the day, so there's a chance that locals will have a respite from the wet weather. The cloudy and dry weather is forecasted to continue through Thursday but the overnight forecast includes a 40 per cent chance of showers. 

Environment Canada Meteorologist Armel Castellan told V.I.A. in a previous interview that a "parade of storms" will bring ample amounts of rainfall to the southern B.C. coast over several days, noting that Metro Vancouverites might not see a dry day until Feb. 10.

An unsettled or "active" atmosphere over the northeastern Pacific Ocean is driving the stormy pattern locally. These rain events are "going to be cyclical" and will take place every day or every couple of days over the next week, Castellan explained. 

Metro Vancouver weather forecast 

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Photo via Environment Canada

While the start of the month has seen above-average temperatures in Metro Vancouver, the national weather forecaster calls for a shift to cooler temperatures mid-month. 

The first week of March -- the start of meteorological spring -- is also currently showing a cooler-than-average signal. 

Have a look at the updated Environment Canada winter forecast for Metro Vancouver.

This story has been updated with the warning from Environment Canada