Happy Tuesday, Squamish.
And a big Happy Canada Day too!
Check out our roundup of events for a guide on how to spend the patriotic day.
The District of Squamish has asked residents and visitors to "refrain from lighting fireworks" today.
"Fireworks are strictly prohibited within the boundaries of the District of Squamish except for Oct. 31, Dec. 31, and other celebrations in cooler periods as permitted by the Fire Chief," reads their social media post.
"Please note there are NO official events holding a fireworks display in Squamish on Canada Day.
"A Category 1 fire ban is currently in place across the District of Squamish."
Back to the weather, according to Squamish meteorologist Jason Ross, a high-pressure ridge over southern B.C. will bring above seasonal temperatures today.
"The high-pressure ridge will weaken by mid-week, allowing an onshore flow to develop, accompanied by cooler temperatures and increasing morning cloud cover." he said.
On July 1, we will see a high of 29 C (25 C near the water) and a low of 13 C.
The UV index will hit 8, or very 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 8 or more, Environment Canada says:
- Don't stay too long in the sun, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Wear your sunglasses (the special UV ones) and stay in the shade.
- Put on more sunscreen every 2 hours or after swimming or working up a good sweat.
(See the advice for the full range of the index.)
Sunrise was at 5:09 a.m. this morning and sunset will be at 9:24 p.m.
Moon phase
The moon is in its first quarter phase.
The moon's illumination is currently 39.82% meaning that is the percentage of the moon illuminated by the sun, according to phasesmoon.com.
It is currently located in the constellation Virgo.
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: None
Today's top allergens
True Grasses (Moderate)
All Fungal Spores (Low)
Cedar, Cypress, Juniper, Thuja (Low)
Tomorrow, July 2
Pollen: Moderate
Spores: None
Tomorrow's top allergens
True Grasses (Moderate)
All Fungal Spores (Low)
Cedar, Cypress, Juniper, Thuja (Low)
June 30
Pollen: Moderate
Spores: None
Other stuff you should know
Bridge work ramps up
The District has alerted locals that work on the downtown Pedestrian Bridge is underway until 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.
You can go!
The public Washrooms have opened at Sp’awk’us Feather Park, on the oceanfront.
The washrooms are located at 37111 Sp’ak’wus Landing, between the parking lot and the green space behind the children’s playground.
The toilets are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to a post from the District.
There are four stalls in total, all of which are gender neutral.
Two of the stalls are accessible with baby change stations.
Be bear aware
On June 25, the Conservation Officer Service and District of Squamish issued a warning following multiple reports of a sow with two cubs showing defensive behaviour towards people using the trail systems near the Mamquam River.
The Conservation Officer Service has put up signage warning residents to please avoid the area if possible.
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.
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 ⬇️.
