Rain returns to southern B.C. for 1st time in weeks as regions deal with impacts of drought

Many B.C. residents woke up Friday to what's become an unfamiliar sight in recent weeks: rain.

It's the first time some regions like Vancouver and Victoria have seen rain this month as a weeks-long drought has led to dry conditions and record-breaking high temperatures.

Showers are in Vancouver's forecast for the next week, with the exception of Sunday during the daytime, according to Environment Canada.

Even though the shift in weather will be welcome for many, it may not bring enough precipitation to ease concerns in some communities.

The Sunshine Coast, for example, is only expected to see about a millimetre of rain by Saturday morning. That region's main water reservoir has fallen to critically low levels, prompting a state of emergency.

Swimming pools, breweries, non-medical cannabis producers, businesses that bottle water, and those that transport and install concrete, cement and gravel were among those instructed to halt the use of potable water.

But the change in weather was expected to have an impact on the Lower Mainland's smoky skies. An air quality advisory was in place for more than a week due to wildfires in the region and stagnant weather.

"Improvements are being measured in parts of the region and will continue through this evening and into Friday," Environment Canada's update on the advisory said Thursday.

"Northwesterly winds are expected to bring clean marine air into the region and displace the smoke. Improvements in air quality in parts of the Fraser Valley may take a little longer due to geography and proximity to the wildfires. It is expected that more significant improvements in air quality will occur Friday."

Sure enough, Metro Vancouver announced late Friday morning that the air quality advisory had been lifted.

"Moderate northwesterly winds have displaced the smoke with clean marine air," the regional district said in a statement.

"The clearing began Thursday in parts of the region and fine particulate levels are now very low." 

With files from The Canadian Press