Nanaimo and most of Vancouver Island is set for a extended stretch of warm, sunny weather. (Wikimedia Commons)

By Alex Rawnsley

blue skies

Sunshine, above-average temps feature in Nanaimo’s long term forecasts

Apr 14, 2020 | 7:22 AM

NANAIMO — It’s set to be a long time before umbrellas and other wet-weather gear is needed in the mid-Island region.

The year’s first extended period of warm, sunny weather is expected to last through the weekend and into the later stages of April.

Lisa Erven, Environment Canada meteorologist told NanaimoNewsNOW a strong ridge of high pressure from the south west is diverting any cooler temperatures and stormy weather inland.

“Anytime we get that sort of pattern coming in, we expect to see some of those warmer temperatures creeping into the forecast,” Erven said.

Temperatures in the Nanaimo region are expected to hover in the high-teens and broach 20 degrees near the middle of the week.

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“For the east side of the Island that is approaching records, flirting with some in Nanaimo, Comox-Courtenay area,” Erven said. “For temperature records throughout this week, a lot of values are in the low 20’s.”

Some forecasting models are calling for a small chance of showers over the weekend due to a storm moving in from the north, however Erven believes much of it will skip past Nanaimo.

“(It’s) going to track mostly through Interior BC where the cooler weather and showers will be confined to. We could see a mix of sun and cloud for the Island, a low chance of showers for Saturday before that ridge builds back over the province through early next week.”

Forecasted day time highs in Nanaimo throughout the week are projected to be within a few degrees of long-standing records, including a 1947 mark on Wednesday, April 15.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley