Lower Mainland Weather Central

[jollyburger]

It's okay, it won't be that hot again for a few thousand years

In the case of this specific heat dome, which is a mountain of hot air stacked vertically through the atmosphere, it is a once in a 1,000 or even 10,000-year event for this particular area. How do we know? It's actually quite simple to explain.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/heat-wave-dome-2021-seattle-portland-weather/

[Migrant_Coconut]

^ Uh, not so fast:

For the past week, as computer models have consistently forecast seemingly unbelievable numbers, meteorologists struggled to grasp how a heat wave of this magnitude could even be possible, given this region has never experienced anything of this magnitude before. Were the models wrong? Or, given climate change, should we now expect the unexpected — is this now just becoming routine?

Turns out, the models were correct and we should expect extreme heat waves, even unprecedented ones like this to become more routine. "There is no context really, in the sense that there is no analog in our past for what we are likely to see this week," says Dr. Michael Mann, distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Pennsylvania State University and author of the new book "The New Climate War."

But calling it a new normal does not suffice says Mann, "Some people called this a 'new normal. But it is worse than that," explained Mann. "We will continue to see more and more extreme heat waves, droughts, wildfires and floods as long as we continue to warm the planet through fossil fuel burning and carbon emissions."

[Klazu]

Sunset on Vancouver's hottest day on record.

[GeeCee]

Wildfire smoke will be hitting us in the next few days from looking at the smoke forecast. Enjoy, everyone, and maybe pick up some air purifiers, and don't throw away those masks *quite* yet.

http://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

Wildfire smoke will be hitting us in the next few days from looking at the smoke forecast. Enjoy, everyone, and maybe pick up some air purifiers, and don't throw away those masks *quite* yet.

http://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

Might not notice it unless there's stagnant air or those fires dramatically increase in size.

[jollyburger]

Bigger concern is that we're going to have zero rain for at least the next two weeks.

[mcminsen]

Clear skies, fresh ocean breeze, low humidity, moderate temperatures, cool nights.

How long will it last?





Downtown Vancouver, July 19 '21, my pics

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Downtown Vancouver, July 19 '21, my pic

Downtown Vancouver, Aug.1 '21, my pic

[mcminsen]

And there it is. A distinct smell of smoke downtown tonight. I don't see anything but you can sure smell it.

I know it's not my neighbour downstairs barbecuing. It's got that very recognizable smell of forest fire/wildfire.

[osirisboy]

Well after tomorrow the winds are supposed to go back to a south south/west direction (according to weather network) so hopefully it won’t be bad here

[mcminsen]

Any smoke I smelled a while back sort of came and went so it might have just been something in the neighbourhood.

There's definitely smoke now. I also noticed it yesterday when I was on the Lion's Gate Bridge. Very light smell and appearance so far. The light on the sidewalk looks slightly orange.

According to the smoke forecast that GeeCee posted a link to we should see some more light and medium smoke over the next day or two. Keeping fingers crossed that we can still avoid the heavy stuff.

Yesterday morning there was a very brief and light rain shower downtown. Barely enough to make the ground damp.

At YVR they also got a trace, BUT there has been no measurable precipitation since June 15 at the airport.

If the rain that is forecast later this week doesn't happen then I think it would be August 13 when we would hit 59 days without rain (at YVR) and possibly set an all time record.




Downtown Vancouver, Aug.1 '21, my pics
...

...

[mcminsen]

Hot, smoky, and parched.





Vancouver, Aug.13 '21, my pics

[svlt]

Nice pics to really hit home how smokey/hazy it's been. Didn't know 400 W Georgia was so advanced now already!

[MIPS]

It's pretty wet out there.

[Klazu]

No kidding. For once there has been space on bike lanes.

More seriously, it is interesting to think how dry it was only 1.5 months ago. If only few rainy days would take place during August, we wouldn't have any problems with wildfires. We get plenty of water annually but not just always at the right time.

I was today at Cleveland Dam and I have never seen them having the floodgates fully open. It was an impressive sight and the reservoir has almost regained the volume lost during summer - in October!

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Klazu

No kidding. For once there has been space on bike lanes.

More seriously, it is interesting to think how dry it was only 1.5 months ago. If only few rainy days would take place during August, we wouldn't have any problems with wildfires. We get plenty of water annually but not just always at the right time.

I was today at Cleveland Dam and I have never seen them having the floodgates fully open. It was an impressive sight and the reservoir has almost regained the volume lost during summer - in October!

I mean it's rained a lot but they need 130 billion liters to go back to the levels from May. Capilano Lake was pretty much empty all summer because of the repair work they were doing. The expanded reservoirs would add 350 billion liters if they are all built. They also need good snowpacks to feed the reservoirs before summer.

http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/water/sources-supply/reservoir-levels/Pages/default.aspx

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Klazu

If only few rainy days would take place during August, we wouldn't have any problems with wildfires. We get plenty of water annually but not just always at the right time.

Did this rain hit the interior of BC too? That's where the wildfire problems were/are.

All the rain happening at once is a problem because it doesn't replenish the groundwater; too much of the rain runs off into rivers and streams and doesn't have time to soak in.

[MIPS]

We had a bit of rain on friday night but not enough to leave puddles in the morning. The rest of the weekend you could see dark clouds around here but no rain fell in town.

[SpongeG]

so far I haven't really noticed much, I drove from Surrey to Tswassen this afternoon and barely had to turn on the wipers. Rain seems to be a dud.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

so far I haven't really noticed much, I drove from Surrey to Tswassen this afternoon and barely had to turn on the wipers. Rain seems to be a dud.

Sounds like you're in a different world.

On the downtown peninsula it's been raining almost non-stop all day. I was also on Broadway between Kingsway and Cambie and it was coming in waves.

It's been raining and through the evening downtown.





Homer Street, Oct.16 '21, my pic