Hot in Vancouver: Sizzling Wednesday, a little cooler Thursday

There was a time, not long ago, when unseasonably hot weather was the most unguiltypleasure of all in Metro Vancouver.

That's because in a place wheredampness prevails most months, ditching the Gore-Texearlyor even better having your straightened hair actually stay straight used to feel like abonus victory over Mother Nature.

But with peak wildfire season just around the corner and drought concerns already forcing water restrictions on Vancouver and the Gulf Islands, the latest forecast calling for a week of above average temperatures doesn't seem altogether happy news.

According to Environment Canada, Wednesday will be the hottest of the stretch with the daytime maximumin Vancouver reaching 25 C more than six degrees warmer than the 18.8 C average for June 12.

Inland will be even toastier with an expected high of 31 C.

"Today is unusually warm," said CBCmeteorologist Brett Soderholm. "But I expect the rest of the week tobe less so."

Unlike some years,Solderholm thinks Metro Vancouver isn't likely to experience a "June-uary" period of prolonged rain.

"We had our cooler spell last week when it was a little rainy and a little gross," he said. "That will be the worst of it."

Thanks to last week's weather, the fire danger ratings are lower todaythan they were most of last month in many parts of B.C. ButSolderholm expects they will start rising again soon.

He also predicts it will be a warmer than normal summer throughout the province.

The highest recorded temperature for June 12 in Vancouver is 27.4 C set in1999.

The record low is 6.1 C set in 1945.