B.C. will be bracing for the possibility of more wildfires in the coming days amid favourable fire weather, including the chance of thunderstorms and dry lightning.
A powerful cold front is expected to bring strong winds and the threat of dry lightning on Sunday, fuelling existing wildfires and potentially sparking new ones. Wilfire smoke will also lead to a drop in air quality for many locales.
DON’T MISS: How severe weather alerts are issued, and potentially save lives
A very high to extreme fire danger exists across much of the B.C. coast and the Interior on Sunday.
Extreme fire danger amplified by thunderstorm, dry lightning potential
Although some rain is expected through Sunday, precipitation will quickly clear up heading into the new work week, allowing for another stretch of heat and dry weather for the Interior.
Sunday overnight will see easterly winds shift to a southerly flow, bringing increased wildfire smoke into southern portions of B.C. for Monday. Through Monday, areas that need the most rain will miss out.
Strong wind gusts of 40-50 km/h through Sunday evening will fan active flames in areas where the fire danger ratings range from very high to extreme.
To make the situation more violatile, there could be dry lightning, which may spark new wildfires.
Son-severe thunderstorms are forecast on Sunday, with dry lightning and gusty winds, to portions of north-central British Columbia, the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
Those two hazards are prone to worsening wildfire conditions and sparking new blazes, with lightning already a suspected cause in two wildfires of note.
Shifting winds will become more southerly Sunday overnight, expected to transport smoke into southern regions of the province through Monday.
As a result, air quality will worsen in impacted areas.
The incoming dry stretch will likely maintain or elevate high and extreme fire danger ratings across the Interior through this upcoming week.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across B.C.
WATCH: Here’s why Vancouver rarely sees thunderstorms