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B.C. is in desperate need of some rain as crews continue to battle an unprecedented wildfire season.

Rain is falling around many areas of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Friday morning and that is shifting the air mass that has been stuck over most parts of the province.

The region will experience some showers throughout the day on Friday and temperatures will reach about 21 C. Humidity will remain high, however.

A cold front pushing through from Vancouver Island to the Lower Mainland, the central Interior, and the Kootenays will see those conditions continue into Saturday.

Most areas of northern B.C. will likely see some showers Saturday and into Sunday.

The North Coast will receive quite a lot of rain over the weekend, with temperatures reaching between 16 C and 18 C.

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Global BC meteorologist Kasia Bodurka says this much needed cold front is bringing scattered showers and a reprieve from above seasonal temperatures. “This (along with another approaching cold front), will likely clear the smoky skies especially closer to the coast,” she said.

FULL COVERAGE: Wildfires burning around B.C.

Even with some rain in the forecast for many areas of the province, the B.C. Wildfire Service says nothing but a sustained downpour will help the wildfire situation.

Officials are starting to see a small improvement in some areas but the rain is not heavy enough to make a significant difference. And it brings along another risk.

“We’re thrilled to get moisture in the interior (finally),” says Bodurka, “but it comes with a chance of some severe thunderstorms. At 9:45 a.m. [Friday] Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for eastern central interior areas including 100 Mile, Cariboo, Kinbasket, north Columbia and North Thompson.”

Temperatures are expected to climb back up early next week.

More than 1.1 million hectares of land has been burned so far this year.

MAP: Location of wildfires around B.C.