Here's what the next three months of spring weather may look like in B.C.
While the Vancouver forecast for the first part of March is looking wet, the next three months of spring weather may bring some relief from the rain.
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) latest temperature and precipitation probabilistic forecasts for the March to May 2026 timeframe were released late last month, allowing for an early peek at how the upcoming months of spring weather may shake out.
The three-month seasonal outlook is pushed out by ECCC at the end of each month and looks at meteorological trends for the current season.
Daily Hive spoke with Colin Fong, a meteorologist with ECCC, about what weather British Columbians may see over the next three months, starting with precipitation across the province.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Fong explained that while the precipitation outlook is averaged out over the three months, the spring forecast is heavily dictated by March.
“For March, we’re looking at above normal precipitation for northern B.C.,” said Fong. “It could be wetter than normal.
“As we get further south, we do see a dry signal, though it is weak. That could suggest we may get more of a high-pressure ridge, bringing in warmer air and keeping precipitation to the north.”
While April and May may see a decreasing trend of precipitation, the ECCC meteorologist explained that spring is the season when we do get the showers, so Metro Vancouver won’t be entirely off the hook from the rain.
When it comes to the temperature outlook, Fong is forecasting things to hover around “normal” for the spring months.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
“We’re looking at about normal temperatures for much of B.C. for the spring months,” said Fong. There may be an exception in the far north, where things could be a bit below normal.
“However, the further you get towards the South Coast and the south west interior, the more consistent the warm signal is.”
The ECCC seasonal forecasts are based on a 20-member ensemble of predictions, 10 members from each of two coupled atmosphere-ocean-land physical climate models. The forecast probabilities are estimated by first computing the anomalies or departures from normal for each ensemble member and then applying the calibration procedure to these values.
You can view the full probabilistic forecasts issued by ECCC online.
If you’re looking for some fun events to check out around Metro Vancouver, no matter the weather, take a look at our list of over 40 fun and fantastic things to do around Vancouver this March.
Epic concerts, exciting sporting events, delicious food events, and more. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
With files from Laine Mitchell