Those looking for a break from all the heat will have their prayers answered later this week.
With Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley in the middle of a nearly three-week long heat wave, Environment Canada’s Matt MacDonald said tomorrow (Wednesday) could be the start of cooler temperatures and the end of a local heat wave.
“Wednesday could be the biggest change we’ve had in a while,” he said.”We may wake up to low-lying clouds, great skies and maybe even some light drizzle.”
MacDonald pointed out the last time the region has had any precipitation was July 10, and the Fraser Valley has been extremely dry and hot since.
The heat wave spiked this past weekend, with Abbotsford reach highs of 33.9 celsius on Sunday, 30C on Saturday and 30.3C on Friday. Typical temperatures range around 23.
“A ridge of high pressure set up in our area around July 11 and last week the ridge intensified and allowed an air mass that usually sits over Nevada and California to push northwards into southern B.C.,” he said. “The longer that air mass persists the more the air mass is able to warm, especially with these being the longest days of the year it gives the sun plenty of time to works its magic.”
That ridge becomes trapped and is prevented from mixing with other ridges, which can effect air quality.
However, MacDonald said this week will see a marine layer that sits over the Pacific Ocean break through and cool down the Fraser Valley.
He said early-August will follow that trend of slightly cooler than normal temperatures, but as the month continues he expects normal or above-normal temperatures to arrive.
