The skies might just be something to be thankful for.
While the middle of October in Vancouver is often marked with the beginning of the stormy season, that’s not how the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend is shaping up.
Average temperatures and mostly sunny skies should prevail this weekend, though there will be a bit of rain before we get to turkey time, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang.
“It appears to be a benign forecast for the southern part of B.C., especially in the Lower Mainland,” she says.
Thursday night, a small system is expected to roll into Vancouver, bringing with it cloudy skies. Up to eight millimitres of precipitation is expected to fall by midday Friday.
“It’s mostly in the overnight period into the morning. It’ll prob still be hanging around in the morning when people are commuting,” Lang says.
More rain is expected at higher elevations.
Once that system has moved on, mostly clear skies are expected in Vancouver until next Tuesday (Oct. 13).
Lang says that while no systems are expected over the weekend, some low-lying clouds and fog are likely to form each morning and may cover Vancouver for a while, but no precipitation is expected. Areas further from the ocean will likely see less cloud.
Temperatures will be near normal for this time of year as well, between highs of 16 C and lows of 8 C.
“We’re running around average,” Lang says. “It may be a little bit cooler on Friday with that rainfall, but for the most part steady as she goes.”
The nice weather is a break from what is often expected this time of year, she adds.
“We’re getting into storm season in the Lower Mainland, but so far it’s been pretty quiet,” she says, adding that no major storms are currently predicted by the computer models for the foreseeable future.
Winter weather elsewhere in B.C.
The Lower Mainland may be mild, but winter-like weather is starting to appear in B.C., which may affect those travelling for Thanksgiving weekend.
“There is colder air seeping into the Interior,” Lang says.
Winter tires or tires that are rated for winter driving (like some all-weather tires) are now legally required for mountain pass routes in B.C. (and they need at least 3.5 mm of tread).
Routes that require winter-rated tires include Highway 99 to Whistler, Highway 1 past Hope, the Coquihalla, Highway 3 into Southern B.C., and the Malahat on Vancouver Island.
“Through the Interior, it looks to be dry, but you may start to encounter snow at the passes,” Lang says.
Drivers can use the Drive BC map to see live updates about route conditions.