Happy Friday, Squamish!
It is the summer solstice—the longest day of the year.
Officially, the summer solstice is tonight at 7:42 p.m.
According to Squamish meteorologist Jason Ross, Friday into Saturday morning, a deep upper low will traverse down the B.C. coast, leading to cooler temperatures, rain, and possible snow over the alpine between 1,500 m and 2,000 m Friday evening into early Saturday morning.
“The upper low will bring a cool pool of unstable air, resulting in a risk of thunderstorms with small hail this afternoon and evening,” Ross said.
As the upper low shifts southeast into Washington State on Saturday evening, a weak ridge of high pressure will develop, yielding warmer and drier conditions by Sunday and early next week.
On June 20, we will see a high of 16 C and a low of 12 C.
The UV index will hit 6, or high.
The index, which was invented in Canada, ranges from 0 to 11+.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause sunburn, eye cataracts, skin aging and skin cancer.
When the index is at 6 or 7, Environment Canada says:
- Protection required —UV damages the skin and can cause sunburn.
- Reduce time in the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and take full precaution by seeking shade, covering up exposed skin, wearing a hat and sunglasses, and applying sunscreen.
(See the advice for the full range of the index.)
Sunset will be at 9:24 p.m. on Friday. Sunrise was at 5:05 a.m.
Moon phase
The moon is in its waning crescent phase, which is the eighth and final phase in the cycle.
The moon's illumination is currently 29.56%, meaning that is the percentage of the moon illuminated by the sun, according to phasesmoon.com.
It is currently located in the constellation Gemini.
Howe Sound conditions
The water temperature in Howe Sound today is 16 C at the Halibut Bank buoy, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Allergens
According to Aerobiology Research Laboratories data, this is the pollen situation in our region:
Pollen: Moderate
Spores: Moderate
Today's top allergens
All Fungal Spores (Moderate)
Alder (Low)
Cedar, Cypress, Juniper, Thuja (Low)
Tomorrow, June 21
Pollen: Moderate
Spores: Moderate
Tomorrow's top allergens
All Fungal Spores (Moderate)
Alder (Low)
Cedar, Cypress, Juniper, Thuja (Low)
June 22
Pollen: Moderate
Spores: Low
Other stuff you should know
Bridge work ramps up
The District has alerted locals that work on the downtown Pedestrian Bridge will become more obvious on June 23 and July 4, with activity slated for between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Construction crews will be working on the west side of the bridge near Loggers Lane and Victoria Avenue. The work will include the delivery and installation of a crane and structural bridge components.
"All scheduled activities are subject to change based on weather conditions, equipment availability, and site logistics," the District posted.
Folks should anticipate:
• Intermittent traffic delays along Loggers Lane and near the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Loggers Lane.
• Temporary parking restrictions in the parking lot located at the east end of Main Street.
• Temporary closure of a section of the Xwu’nekw Park for a staging area.
• Temporary pedestrian access restrictions in the park area near The Broken Seal restaurant, particularly during crane operations.
• Construction noise and increased vehicle activity in the vicinity during daytime hours.
• A pedestrian detour will be established to safely redirect foot traffic when necessary.
• One way traffic to the Sirocco 3 underground parking will be maintained.
Be bear aware
Report wildlife conflicts to the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
The District provides the following tips for when recreating in Squamish, which is prime bear country.
- Carry bear spray.
- Travel in groups if possible and make noise to avoid surprising a bear.
- Leash dogs at all times—bears can see dogs as threats, and off-leash dogs may provoke a response or lead the bear back to its person.
- Look out for bear signs like fresh scats, freshly overturned logs, and ripe berries on bushes and avoid overgrown trails.
- Use extra caution in areas where bears commonly are, such as near berry bushes or streams.
- Make noise on the trail by clapping or talking, especially around blind corners or when visibility is low.
Water restrictions
Water restrictions have been in effect since May 1.
The muni has set Stage 1 outdoor water use restrictions.
Stage 1 means lawn watering is limited to two days per week.
"In the summer months, water consumption nearly doubles. The outdoor water use restrictions are in place to effectively manage the supply and demand of water across the community during the warmer months," the District said in a social media post.
Locals with even-numbered addresses water on Wednesday and Saturday.
Locals with odd addresses water on Thursday and Sunday.
Watering can take place from 4 to 10 a.m. and from 7 to 10 p.m.
Permits may allow additional watering of newly seeded lawns and new sod. Call the Public Works office at 604.815.6868 for more on those permits.
Britannia Beach and Furry Creek water restrictions
Watering restrictions are also in effect for Britannia Beach and Furry Creek as of June 1, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) announced in its newsletter.
Britannia Beach and Furry Creek water system users, are asked to limit their use of water for sprinkling and irrigation to the following times:
- 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Battery & recycling pop-up events
The SLRD has announced Britannia Beach and Furry Creek Pop-Up Depots.
According to a post by the regional district, "Squamish CAN will be in Britannia Beach and Furry Creek to collect flexible plastics, foam packaging and household batteries."
Furry Creek, Oliver’s Landing Community Centre parking lot:
June 26, 12 to 3 p.m.
Britannia Beach, alternating location:
June 26, 4 to 7 p.m. at 351 Copper Dr. by the Adera visitor parking stalls.
Chipper days!
Squamish FireSmart is hosting Chipper Days for the 2025 wildfire season.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
The District reminds locals that Squamish DOX Recycling, located at 40446 Government Road, is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The recycle hub accepts a variety of recyclable materials, including: glass, flexible plastics, foam packaging, paper and cardboard, containers (plastic, metal, and paper).
Live view of the Stawamus Chief ⬇️.
