Saturday's brief rainfall had little impact on the drought, but expert says wetter days are coming soon in Metro Vancouver
Metro Vancouver saw some rain showers Saturday morning, but according to Environment Canada, it’s not yet clear if it was enough to officially end the region’s 45-day streak without measurable rain.
“The measurement will have to go through quality control, and then a climatologist will have to decide if it counts toward the drought record or not,” said Meteorologist Jonathan Bau.
To register as measureable rain, the total must be 0.2 millimetres or greater. Bau says there were anywhere from trace amounts to 0.6 millimetres across Metro Vancouver Saturday, but the final call comes from the weather station at Vancouver International Airport.
The current record of 58 days without measurable rain at YVR was set back in 1951.
Whether it was measureable or not, Bau says Saturday’s rain won’t do much to reverse the sustained dry spell that has parched the region.
“The rain that we saw yesterday had fairly limited impact on the current drought,” he said.
Moving forward however, wetter days are on the way.
“There is a changing of the pattern towards the end of the week,” Bau said.
Significant rainfall could hit parts of southern B.C. as early as Friday, as a Pacific frontal system moves in, according to Bau.
“That will bring the first round of significant precipitation for the South Coast, Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley,” he said. “It will fill the reservoirs, wet the ground, and the soil can at least absorb some moisture,”
Bau says Environment Canada is expecting at least 10 to 15 millimetres to fall, in total, as the system moves through.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.