Metro Vancouver(Rajeev Sharma): Following an unusually mild winter with no snowfall for the first time in over four decades, Metro Vancouver could be heading into a spring season marked by higher temperatures and below-average rainfall, according to forecasters.
Meteorologist Matt Loney from Environment and Climate Change Canada indicated that long-range projections point to a warmer and drier pattern developing through the coming months. While short-term fluctuations are expected, the broader outlook suggests that April’s latter half, along with May and June, may see sustained above-normal temperatures.
As the Easter weekend approaches, residents can expect sunny skies and a notable spike in temperatures—potentially rising as much as 8 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages. Coastal areas may experience highs around 15°C, while inland regions could touch 19–20°C.
However, forecasters caution that the warmth will not be constant. A brief dip in temperatures is anticipated early in the week due to an upper-level weather disturbance, though another warm spell may follow later in April.
Despite the drier outlook, experts stress that rainfall will not disappear entirely. Instead, precipitation is expected to be lower than usual but still present intermittently.
Looking back at March, the region recorded slightly higher-than-average rainfall, receiving about 129 millimetres compared to the typical 106 mm. Temperatures also edged above normal, averaging 7.1°C. A significant contributor to the month’s rainfall was a prolonged atmospheric river event that brought steady showers over several days.
The evolving weather pattern could have implications for water resources and wildfire risks if the dry trend continues into early summer, though officials say it is too early to draw firm conclusions.
