Thunderstorms possible in Vancouver tonight, tomorrow morning

"That risk of thundershowers is going to be there for pretty much the entire Metro Vancouver area."

While Vancouver's summer has been relatively calm so far, there could be a bit more drama in the sky over the next 36 hours. A low-pressure system is moving up from the Washington/Oregon coast, and it's bringing showers and a chance of lightning. "It'll be warm but also kinda wet at the same time," says Environment Canada meteorologist Colin Fong.

The system is expected to arrive in Metro Vancouver tonight, July 15, and move through the area on Thursday and Friday. From Wednesday night to Thursday evening, Fong says there's an outside chance of thundershowers, with lightning and heavier rain in an isolated area. Thunder and lightning "That risk of thundershowers is going to be there for pretty much the entire Metro Vancouver area," says Fong.

"The conditions are favourable to see a thunderstorm; the chances are likely to be there for the majority of the day." Thunderstorms aren't often seen in Vancouver, but are more common in the Interior; this system is headed to the Interior after Vancouver. "This week, we’re expecting a shift in the weather that could bring storm cells with dry lightning and heightened winds to parts of the southern and central Interior," reads a post by the BC Wildfire Service.

It's also somewhat unusual that the risk of a thunderstorm starts at night and runs through the day. "For Vancouver, typically for thunder showers... that tends to happen late in the day because it really needs the sunlight," says Fong. "Sunlight typically fuels these storms."

"In this situation, it's not so much the sunlight, it's the actual weather system itself," he continues. "That's what we're seeing overnight tonight." Precipitation and wind While the chance of thunderstorms isn't certain, what is certain are the showers.

The system is expected to bring 5 to 10 mm to most areas of Metro Vancouver through Thursday. "We're not really looking at really heavy amounts; having said that, a thundershower could bring localized heavy rainfall," says Fong. Those downpours would be in highly localized areas for a short time.

While the risk of thunderstorms ends Thursday evening, Friday will likely see lighter showers throughout the area. By Saturday, clouds are still expected, but the showers are forecast to have mostly moved on. Throughout the storm, Fong doesn't expect wind to be a big issue.

Temperatures While the stormy weather will break the hold warm temperatures have had on the region, it won't get too cool. A low of 16 C is expected on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. Daytime highs will remain in the low 20s through to the weekend as well.

Fong notes that after the system moves on a ridge of high pressure is expected to reform over the region, and early next week could see above-average temperatures for Metro Vancouver.