By next weekend Vancouver should feel like it's the middle of summer.
After a bit of grey sky and a few showers, a Vancouver's weather should heat up with sunny blue skies and summer-like temperatures Environment Canada meteorologist Philippe-Alain Bergeron tells Vancouver Is Awesome.
"We can almost promise a sunny warm weekend," he says.
A trough of low pressure near Vancouver right now will begin to lessen on Monday, May 6, meaning there will likely be a few showers and some wind, but nothing too significant Bergeron says.
However, it will mean the city will be a bit cooler than it normally is at this time of year, with a high around 13 C.
That trough is expected to dissipate going into Tuesday.
"It'll be gradual before a big change for the rest of the week," Bergeron says of Tuesday ad Wednesday.
Skies should clear up on May 7 and though a high of only 14 C is expected, a ridge of high pressure is expected to be developing, allowing the warmth to build and skies to stay clear.
On Wednesday the heat is predicted to begin, especially further inland. Near the shore it should stay relatively normal, with highs around 15 C, but areas a couple of kilometres inland are forecast to hit 18 C.
That trend continues through the next few days. On Thursday, May 9, it's expected to hit 18 C near the water and crack 23 C inland. By Friday the ridge is expected to be at full strength Bergeron says, with highs around 23 C at beaches around the area and 29 C inland through Saturday (and likely continuing to Monday).
"We're quite confident at least through the weekend it's going to be very warm," he says. "It's not going to be record breaking, but certainly very warm.
"It may continue into mid-next week, but by then it's uncertain."
The range in temperatures is thanks to the sea breeze, Bergeron notes.
"The big difference will be whether your close to water with the sea breeze," he says, explaining the inland high might be felt only a few hundred metres from the shore, if the breeze doesn't make it very far from the coast.
In Abbotsford, where the sea breeze won't be felt, Saturday, May 11, is expected to crack 30 C.
Bergeron notes that while the hot weather is expected to gradually cool next week, the pattern will be of interest to the River Forecast Centre (as freshet and flooding could begin soon) and those watching drought and wildfire conditions.
Protect yourself from the sun
Bergeron is cautioning locals to protect themselves from the sunny days ahead. High UV ratings means sunscreen is going to be essential anywhere skin will be exposed to sunlight.
Stay up-to-date with hyperlocal forecasts across 50 neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland with V.I.A.'s Weatherhood.
