Turn up the A/C: Metro Vancouver set for summer-like temperatures

It’s about to get really hot in parts of the Lower Mainland.

While things have heated up here and there, the region is expecting another spike in temperatures, with the mercury set to rise potentially into the 30s in some areas this week.

“An upper-level ridge of high pressure is building in along the coast and slowly sliding inland,” explained CityNews Meteorologist Michael Kuss.

He says that ridge will come later in the week, likely for the weekend, but remain “locked in place into next week.”

“Hot air is going to get drawn up from the southern U.S. and funneled into B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan. The pattern will be super stagnant with prolonged cooler air over central Canada and heat dominating the west for at least five days from Friday through Tuesday,” he said.

Kuss says highs will likely peak Sunday and Monday, with temperatures “potentially topping 30°C away from the cooling effects of the Salish Sea.”

Many parts of the province have seen warmer temperatures in recent weeks. This comes after a cooler- and damper-than-usual spring, which brought rain and drizzles to the South Coast.

According to Kuss, the mercury was about 2°C below average across the region in April.

Warmer temperatures have raised some concerns across parts of the province, with flooding and wildfires already keeping crews busy in certain areas.

Special air quality advisories have been issued for the North Peace and Fort Nelson regions, with smoke from wildfires burning in Alberta wafting over. Wildfires in B.C. are also contributing to poorer air quality in some regions.

No air quality advisories have been issued for the Metro Vancouver or Fraser Valley regions.