For the first day in weeks the skies have opened above Williams Lake.

With rain falling on city streets Thursday, Williams Lake mayor Walter Cobb said he is cautiously optimistic they can consider a plan to bring residents home.

鈥淲e are in the process of getting our emergency services ready so we can make a plan to return home,鈥� Cobb said.

鈥淚n the last two days, there has been no fire movement, however the city鈥檚 situation is still heavily dependant on the weather.鈥�

Weather that is not that promising, despite the rain.

Environment Canada meteorologist Cindy Yu said this rainfall will be short lived and won鈥檛 be enough to make a real difference.

鈥淲e have a lot of fires in the region. This is certainly a break, but I don鈥檛 think it will be enough to relieve what we have in the region.鈥� said Yu.

鈥淭his is only a one day event. The low pressure system will be moving into Alberta overnight, but, this is the first measurable rainfall for parts of the Chilcotin, Cariboo or Thompson.

鈥淲e are expecting anywhere from five to 10 millimetres of rain in the region, but of course, that also comes with a risk of thunderstorms,鈥� said Yu.

She said that we are looking at another stretch of hot and dry weather from Friday on. However, there is a also a weather system in the forecast for early next week that may bring some more precipitation to the Cariboo.

Related:

Cobb said today鈥檚 showers have lifted the mood in town, but they know this is far from over.

To allow residents back home the city would first need to get government services like the hospital up and running.

In the absolute best-case scenario, with no increased fire activities, they may consider lifting the evacuation order sometime next week.

鈥淭hings are certainly more secure than they were,鈥� added Cobb.