A look at your extended Canada Day long weekend traveller’s forecast

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s not a “true” long weekend but that doesn’t have to stop you from getting out of town!

We turned to News1130 Meteorologist Russ Lacate to find out what you can expect, weather-wise, if you’re taking off for an extended Canada Day long weekend.

Vancouver Island

Tourism groups send people to Tofino for storm-chaser season, but it’s it’s not supposed to be at the end of June! Russ says it’s looking pretty wet in that area of the Island.

“The west side of Vancouver Island gets a fair amount of showers and some thunderstorms over the next couple of days, at least. The east coast of Vancouver Island isn’t nearly as wet; you’re in a little bit of a rain shadow. Certainly, it’s going to be wet at times today, but it does improve over the next few days,” he adds.

“Victoria hardly had any rain last night. I see some showers on the radar now, but if you’re taking the ferry over to the southern end of the Island, the Gulf Islands, or Victoria, there’ll hardly be any showers left over tomorrow. They taper off right away. Then it’s going to turn sunnier by Sunday, with the heat getting cranked up Monday and Tuesday of next week. A beautiful Mediterranean climate, almost, over the southern part of the Island for the start of next week!” says Russ.

Okanagan

Russ has a mixed forcast for the Okanagan region.

“There’s not just a few of them, but there’s going to be widespread showers and thunderstorms in the forecast today and tomorrow,” he tells us. So, the campgrounds are going to be getting soaked, initially.”

“Those showers peter out on Sunday, and if you wait this one out, the payoff is going to be worth it. It not only dries up Monday and Tuesday, but it’s going to heat up and it’ll be a scorching 30 degrees across the Southern Interior for the holiday Tuesday,” adds Russ.

Seattle

Russ says you’ll probably want to take an umbrella if you’re heading just south of the line.

“The Seattle forecast is laden with thunderstorms for today,” he explains. “Seattle stays on the wet side today, tonight, and tomorrow with numerous showers in the forecast. You’ll start to see them petering off during the day on Sunday.”

He says the although the forecast doesn’t look great for the regular two-day weekend, “if you’re waiting it out til Monday or the holiday Tuesday, it is spectacular! The temperature around Puget Sound gets into the upper-20s.”

Lower Mainland

For those staying in town, Russ says the rain will stick around, at least in the short-term.

“Around these parts, I think it’ll be wet again through the morning, easing off for a spell this afternoon, and returning again late in the day,” he explains.

“We’re pretty much in and out of the rain for most of the day. The high today is 20 degrees. The overnight low is 13. Tomorrow, showers will ease off in the afternoon. The high is 19. And by Sunday, with some extra sun, we have a nice dry day and 21 degrees.”

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