Published on May. 12, 2026, 11:53 PM
B.C.’s weather is about to take a turn with a pattern change introducing cooler temperatures, rainfall and a thunderstorm risk, and even the risk of snow for the mountain peaks by the weekend
It’s been an exceptional dry streak across southern British Columbia over the past several weeks, with expanding drought conditions and higher fire danger risks.
On Tuesday night, a trough approaching the coast will destabilize the atmosphere, increasing the risk of a couple of scattered thunderstorms for the South Coast.
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The good news is that an extended stretch of much cooler weather is likely starting Wednesday. However, it is likely to come with showers and embedded thunderstorms.
Needed rain and thunderstorm threat this week amid warmth
By Wednesday afternoon, a pocket of below-seasonal temperatures develops in the southern Interior under a period of heavy showers and embedded thunderstorms.
By Thursday and Friday, the freezing level falls to below 2000 metres across the bulk of the south, meaning the province’s high-elevation travel routes will be subjected to wet snow.
With a southerly flow and cooler air aloft, thunderstorm and shower chances increase as storms move up from Washington state later Tuesday evening.
