The Metro Vancouver weather forecast looks decidedly less dreary than it did a couple of days ago -- but don't count on a white or sunny Christmas.
While conditions are expected to clear across the Lower Mainland over the weekend, the wet weather is expected to resume starting Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25.
V.I.A.'s Granville Island Weatherhood station shows wet weather with above-average temperatures for Thursday and Friday, with highs of 9 to 10 C and lows dipping down between 4 and 9 C. Up to 15 mm is expected to fall on Friday.
Saturday is expected to see a reprieve from the dismal conditions, with a high of 6 C, a low of 3 C, and a mix of sun and cloud. Sunday is also expected to see dry weather for most of the day but some clouds are expected to roll in overnight and there is a slight chance of showers.
Christmas Day's forecast includes plenty of rainfall in Metro Vancouver, with amounts surging up to 40 mm on the big day. Tuesday is also expected to be wet, with as much as 30 mm of precipitation.
Other parts of the Lower Mainland, such as New Westminster and Richmond, are expected to see similar trends, although both cities may see temperatures dip down to freezing on Saturday night with the clear skies.
Metro Vancouver weather forecast: El Niño conditions
The Weather Network says El Niño has kept conditions significantly warmer across Canada in the weeks leading up to Christmas, adding that it is one of the strongest El Niños on record.
Additionally, a jet stream of warm, Pacific Air has sheltered much of Canada from the chilling effects of Arctic Air, preventing the dreaded "polar vortex" that sees temperatures drop multiple degrees below freezing in the Lower Mainland.
Metro Vancouver temperatures typically average around highs of 5.8 C with lows below zero, and temperatures have been several degrees higher over the past week, according to Environment Canada's climate records.
B.C. isn't expected to see temperatures drop down anytime soon and is also expected to see "below-normal precipitation, below-normal snowfall, and more sunshine than we typically see during the winter," according to the Weather Network.
Due to alpine rain events, the local ski hills are expected to continue to struggle.
