Vancouver weather: When the smoke will clear from the region

Metro Vancouverites will have to endure a hazy day to kick off the week but cleaner air is likely on the way.

Following several days of poor air quality in the region, Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan says a shift to a slightly cooler and wetter pattern will clear the smoke out of the region by Tuesday, Aug. 29.

An air quality advisory remains in place due to high concentrations of fine particulate matter caused mainly by the wildfires across B.C. and south of the border in Washington.

As of 1:30 p.m. Monday, Metro Vancouver's AirMap shows that parts of the Metro Vancouver region, including the City of Vancouver, Burnaby, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, and Maple Ridge, have a level four or "moderate" health risk, while other cities have a level two or "low" risk. The Eastern Fraser Valley has the poorest air in the Lower Mainland, with a level six, which is the highest value for a "moderate" risk before the air quality is deemed "high" risk.

The smoke from the wildfires hasn't cleared the region since there hasn't been a significant change in local weather. Conditions stayed hot and dry over the weekend and heading into Monday morning.

On Monday afternoon, Downtown Vancouver reached a high of 26 C that felt more like 27 C, according to V.I.A's Downtown Centre Weatherhood station. However, there is a chance of showers later in the evening and overnight with the possibility of thunderstorms heading into Tuesday morning.

Weatherhood provides detailed weather data for neighbourhoods across the Lower Mainland and elsewhere in B.C. including temperatures, air quality, precipitation, and wind tracking for up to seven days ahead.

metro-vancouver-weather-forecast-2023jpg — V.I.A.'s Weatherhood shows the daytime highs and lows for specific neighbourhoods across the Lower Mainland, as well as the air quality, expected precipitation, and more.

Metro Vancouver weather forecast includes showers and thunderstorms

While the wet shift will clear some smoke out of the region, there's a possibility that thunderstorms could spark increased wildfire activity, Castellan cautions.

Smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds, temperatures, and wildfire behaviour change.

"There is a potential for more smoke to impact the region. The smoke is leaving but we are not devoid of risk," the meteorologist explains, noting that the Strathcona Provincial Park Fire on Vancouver Island "could perk up with these winds." Conditions on the island are also parched, meaning thunderstorms could spark new fires.

For the most part, however, the convective activity over Vancouver Island should move onto the mainland and "clear things out." Heading into September, there will be less risk than there was at the peak of summer.

"Generally speaking, we are on a trajectory of air clearing," Castellan notes. "Tomorrow has a wetter potential."

Metro Vancouverites may hear thunder booming for a second time overnight Wednesday and there is another chance for wet weather, too. After the wet and stormy spell, temperatures are expected to climb back up a few degrees above seasonal averages heading into the weekend.