B.C. is entering the hot dry season with weeks of little rain in the forecast

B.C. is entering the dry season, which means it could be a while before we get any significant rainfall.

It isn’t good news for fire danger risk in the Province as temperatures rise. Local meteorologist Wesla English says that looking at data from the weather station at UBCO, no precipitation was recorded last summer between June 29 August 9.

English expects high pressure to rebuild over B.C. this weekend, bringing temperatures in the upper 20s and over 30°C next week.

The Weather Network’s forecast expects a strong region of high pressure to bring a prolonged rain-free streak to the southern parts of the Province in the coming weeks.

According to the Weather Network, we shouldn’t expect this extended dry period to be record-breaking, as the bar has been set incredibly high.

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The West Coast, particularly Vancouver, has a reputation for being quite rainy, however, the area actually records less precipitation than the majority of Canadian cities for nearly half the year.

Between June and September, Vancouver gets an average of 177 mm while Toronto receives 300 mm

Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist with the Weather Network, says that In 2017, Vancouver International Airport recorded 20 straight days without precipitation.

“But what Victoria achieved is truly astonishing last year; a staggering 54 straight days without measurable precipitation, beginning in mid-June,” he says.

A long period of dry weather combined with hot temperatures could spell trouble heading into wildfire season, so the public should be extra vigilant this summer when enjoying the outdoors.

After last summer’s unprecedented wildfire season, the Province has put some tougher rules and fines.