The Metro Vancouver weather forecast isn't calling for snow right now -- but that could change quite quickly.
Environment Canada meteorologist Derek Lee said the Lower Mainland has been experiencing a long stretch of colder, dry weather, which has prevented the region from seeing snowfall despite a couple of nights with overnight lows dipping down to the freezing mark.
But the national weather department's weekly forecast oscillates between overnight possibilities of snowfall and dry conditions heading into next week.
"After coming out of a cold weather stretch it is hard to predict when a ridge of high pressure will weaken," Lee told V.I.A., adding that ridges of high pressure tend to defect wet weather away.
In order to see snowfall, the ridge would need to weaken but temperatures would need to dip down at or below freezing overnight. Additionally, a storm would need to occur overnight, when conditions are colder.
"The timing of the temperature change (to below zero) dictates the precipitation," he clarified.
Vancouver has enjoyed a rare stretch of November sunshine
Thanks to the ridge of high pressure, locals have enjoyed clear skies and sunshine over the past several days; temperatures have even climbed a degree or two above the seasonal average during the daytime (the average is 6 C). However, overnight lows have been falling slightly below average, with some neighbourhoods experiencing frigid lows up to four degrees below it (the average is 2 C).
If Metro Vancouver does see some snowfall, it isn't likely to stick to the ground and will likely occur in places with higher terrain, such as the Simon Fraser University campus or the North Shore.
In order for snow to stick, there has to be a "true Arctic air mass" in the region. When this happens, daytime temperatures fall closer to the freezing mark and even lower overnight.
Following some possible flurries or snowfall opportunities early next week, temperatures are expected to rise closer to seasonal averages. Without the ridge of high pressure in the region, a storm pattern is expected to commence late next week.
Metro Vancouver weather forecast
Starting on Friday, Nov. 24, the Downtown Centre Weatherhood station shows a high of 8 C dipping down to 2 C overnight.
Other stations for neighbourhoods in the city, such as Mount Pleasant, show the same temperatures. Temperatures over at UBC are somewhat different, with a slightly cooler daytime high of 7 C but a milder overnight low of 4 C.
Other parts of the Lower Mainland, such as New Westminster, may feel significantly cooler overnight. The city's Weatherhood station shows a daytime high of 7 that is expected to fall to a frigid -2 C overnight.
