You may want to pull out your winter jackets and heavier layers if you haven’t already. Forecasters say a noticeable temperature drop is on the way, potentially bringing the coldest air of the fall season so far as the weekend approaches. The cooler conditions will follow another round of stormy weather set to move across the South Coast in the coming days.

According to Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor, Monday will begin with intermittent showers that could persist into the early or mid-afternoon. While rainfall totals are not expected to be extreme, unsettled conditions will linger into the evening and overnight hours. Cloud cover, damp roads, and occasional gusts will contribute to a generally grey start to the week.

The more organized system arrives shortly afterward. A frontal system developing in the Gulf of Alaska is forecast to track southeast and push into the Lower Mainland late Tuesday morning. As the system advances inland, it will bring renewed periods of steady rain along with increasing wind speeds, particularly in exposed coastal and elevated areas.

Proctor notes that precipitation associated with the system is expected to continue through Wednesday and into Thursday. While exact rainfall amounts remain subject to refinement as the system approaches, the multi-day nature of the event means soils will remain saturated and drainage systems will be tested. Commuters should anticipate slower travel times due to pooling water, reduced visibility, and slippery road conditions.

Wind will also be a factor. As the pressure gradient tightens ahead of and behind the frontal boundary, gusty conditions may develop across parts of the region. Although widespread damaging winds are not currently forecast, localized gusts could bring down small branches and create isolated power disruptions.

Behind the departing system, colder air is expected to filter into southern British Columbia. The shift will feel pronounced compared to the relatively mild stretches experienced earlier this fall. Daytime highs are projected to drop several degrees below recent averages, while overnight lows could dip closer to seasonal norms — or slightly below — depending on cloud cover and wind patterns.

While forecasters are not calling for Arctic-level cold, the air mass arriving later in the week may mark the chilliest temperatures observed so far this season. Clearer skies following the storm could enhance overnight cooling, especially in outlying communities and valleys where cold air tends to settle.

The combination of damp ground, brisk winds, and falling temperatures may also increase the perceived chill, making conditions feel colder than thermometer readings suggest. Residents are encouraged to prepare accordingly, particularly if they plan to spend extended periods outdoors over the weekend.

As always, meteorologists will continue refining the forecast as new data becomes available. For now, the outlook suggests a wet midweek transition followed by a crisp, cooler pattern that signals a more definitive shift toward late-autumn conditions across the Lower Mainland.