Good Sunday to you, Squamish!
First things first, if you were heading to the pool today, don't.
The District of Squamish has announced an unplanned closure of the Brennan Park Pool until 4 p.m. on Sunday.
No reason was given.
"Swimming lessons and public swims are cancelled. We are making every effort to contact registered participants. We apologize for the inconvenience," reads the alert posted on the District's social media on Dec. 8.
Ok, now back to today's weather.
According to Environment Canada, it will be cloudy with a 60 % chance of showers this morning.
We will see clearing near noon.
We will see a high of 7 C today and a low of 0 C overnight.
A mix of sun and cloud are in the forecast for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
B.C. extremes
Yesterday's hot spot in all of B.C. was Point Atkinson (located at the entrance to Burrard Inlet), which hit 13.4 C, according to Environment Canada data.
It was also the hot spot in all of Canada!
(The high in Squamish yesterday was 10.6 C.)
The coldest spot in B.C. on Dec. 7 was Fort Nelson, ( a community in northeast B.C. ) which dropped to -18.6 C.
Today's hot spots are set to be Discovery Island (located off the eastern side of Vancouver Island) and Esquimalt Harbour, which could both reach 9.1 C.
The coldest spot in the province is slated to be Fort Nelson, again, which is set to dip to -21.2 C.
Sunrise & sunset
Sunrise on Dec. 8 is at 7:58 a.m. Sunset today will be at 4:12 p.m.
Moon phase
The moon is in its first quarter, phase.
The moon's illumination is currently 49.95%.
It is currently located in the constellation of Pisces, according to phasesmoon.com.
Moonrise is at 12:50 p.m.; moonset is at 12 a.m.
Tides
The next high tide today is at 11:29 a.m. (height: 4.8 metres), according to tide-forecast.com.
The next low tide will be at 6:21 p.m. (2.69 m); the final high tide will be at 11:01 p.m. (3.31 m).
Seawater temp
According to seatemperature.info, water temperature in Howe Sound today is 8.2 C.
Based on historical data over a period of 10 years, the warmest water on this day in Howe Sound was recorded in 2015 and was 8.9 C, and the coldest was recorded in 2011 at 5.9 C. Seawater temperature in Howe Sound is expected to drop to 7.1 C in the next 10 days.
December average water temperature in Howe Sound is 7.2 C, the minimum temperature is 5.1 C, and the maximum is 8.9 C.
Events to note
There's always something going on in this town. Here's what caught our eye:
On now to Dec.14: Check out Squamish at Dusk at 38550 Loggers Lane from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
"Enjoy magical evenings of illumination at Squamish at Dusk which brightens Rose Park for three weekends from Nov. 28. Experience immersive environments, light art, and interactive light installations," reads the listing.
Today, there's Pokemon Trade & Play at Arrow Wood Games, located at 38157 2 Ave. from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
"Join the weekly Pokémon Trade & Play at Arrow Wood Games! Bring your cards to trade or battle. Ages 6+ can be dropped off. Drop-ins welcome," reads the listing.
Tonight, check out PHANTOM at Trickster's Hideout, located at 38005 Cleveland Ave., from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
"A high-energy metal night with Phantom, a local metal cover band performing some of the genre’s most iconic hits," reads the listing.
There are many more events coming up; go to our online events calendar to see them all! Want a possible shout-out in our daily report? Load your event into our free calendar by clicking "Create an event."
Winter Health and Wellness Tips:
With winter upon us, Vancouver Coastal Health released the following tips and resources to keep locals as safe and healthy as possible this season.
- Preventing slips and falls:
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- Beware of icy conditions as everyone is at risk.
- Walk safely by planning routes, choosing cleared pathways, opting for non-slip footwear, and considering the use of canes or walking aids.
- Seniors, remember many falls can be prevented. Stay active and adhere to health guidelines to maintain your strength.
- Learn more about fall prevention at Preventing falls as you age | HealthLink BC
- Ensuring road safety during winter conditions:
- Budget extra time for travel and be mindful of weather conditions.
- Remain vigilant to avoid driver fatigue.
- Equip your vehicle with winter tires and an emergency kit.
- Keeping up with vaccinations:
- Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone six months and older.
- COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses are essential for maintaining immunity.
- Learn about vaccine recommendations via the province's Get Vaccinated system.
- Practicing good respiratory hygiene:
- Consider masks for indoor settings and shield coughs/sneezes using your elbow.
- Regularly clean your hands and avoid face-touching.
- If feeling unwell, stay home and limit contact, especially with vulnerable individuals.
Health care resources:
- Personalized care: Your family doctor or nurse practitioner knows your health needs best. If you don’t have one, register at HealthLinkBC.ca.
- Pharmacy services: Visit SeeYourPharmacist.ca for prescription refills and minor issues. BC pharmacists treat select minor issues like allergies, cold sores, acne, pink eye, and urinary tract infections.
- General health questions: Call 8-1-1 to speak with a nurse any time.
- Mental health concerns: Visit vch.ca/MentalHealth.
- Non-life-threatening health issues: Visit the clinic for same-day care.
- Vaccinations: Book flu or COVID-19 shots at GetVaccinated.gov.bc.ca or 1-833-838-2323.
- Emergencies: Call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency Department. Check wait times at EDWaitTimes.ca.
District dump alert
Construction at the transfer station at the Squamish Landfill is set to begin on Dec. 9.
This will cause major delays for customers for one to two weeks, the District says.
According to the muni, impacts will include:
°Limited access: Only one car will be allowed at the transfer station at a time, with limited access to bins.
°Special items not accepted: tires (accepted for free at OK Tire and Kal Tire), large appliances (accepted at ASM Squamish) and small electronics and appliances (accepted at GFL depot on Queensway).
°Invasive Species Disposal: The disposal of invasive species will not be accepted during this period.
"Normal operating hours will remain in effect, but we kindly ask the public to limit waste drop-offs during this time. Thank you for your patience and understanding," reads a social media post from the District of Squamish.
Winter tires
Don't forget, since Oct. 1, winter tires or chains are required on the Sea to Sky Highway. It is the law.
"On B.C. roads and highways where winter tires are required, passenger vehicles and light trucks need to use tires that have the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol or 'M+S' on the sidewall. This applies to two-wheel, all-wheel, and four-wheel drive vehicles. The tires need to be in good condition and have a tread depth of at least 3.5 mm (5/32”)," reads the 4 Road Safety at Work site.
"Designated winter tires are your best option for staying safe in winter conditions. We recommend using a set of four matched winter tires with the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol."
The tires must stay on through to March 31. Not having proper winter tires or chains can earn drivers a fine of $121.
Driving issues to note:
•Parking on select streets in Squamish is now restricted to one side only until March 1, 2025.
"This ensures snow plows and emergency vehicles can safely navigate during winter conditions," says the District.
"Vehicles parking on the No Parking side of the street may be ticketed and towed at any time to ensure community safety. The fine for impeding snow removal is $250."
Affected streets:
- Hemlock Avenue - Cedar Drive to Spruce Drive
- Chestnut Avenue - Cedar Drive to Spruce Drive
- Fir Street - Pine Drive to Spruce Dr.
- Third Avenue - Pemberton Avenue to Winnipeg Street (No parking on East side); Pemberton Avenue to Vancouver Street (No parking on West side)
- Fourth Avenue - Winnipeg Street to Main Street (No parking on West side)
- Fifth Avenue - Winnipeg Street to Main Street. (No parking on West side)
- Sixth Avenue - Entire street. (No parking on West side)
- Eaglewind Boulevard - No perimeter parking near the roundabout at the end of Pemberton Avenue
- Edgewater Drive - Government Road to Edgewater Crescent (No parking on East side)
- Edgewater Crescent - Entire street. (No parking on the outside perimeter of the Crescent)
- No Name Road - Entire street. (No parking on East side)
- Brothers Place - Entire street. (No parking on South side)
- Britannia Avenue - Magee Street to Buckley Avenue. (No parking on East side)
- Harris Road - Government Road to cul-de-sac (No parking on South side)
- Hope Road - Depot Road to Axen Road (No parking on East side)
- Diamond Road- Tantalus Road to Garibaldi Way. No parking on North side.
- Diamond Head Road - Garibaldi Way to Mamquam Road- No parking on West side.
- Glacier View Drive - Entire street. No parking on the outside perimeter.
To find out more, go to: squamish.ca/winter-parking
Issues to note on the highway
The West Vancouver Police Department warns of traffic congestion near the Lions Gate Bridge throughout this weekend.
"Significant traffic congestion is expected at the intersection of Taylor Way and Marine Drive due to several sporting and concert events through weekend. Drivers are urged to keep the intersection clear, to use alternate routes if possible and consider public transit as a transportation option."
Gas prices
In Squamish, regular gas is going for 168.9 cents per litre at local stations.
In Whistler, fill up for 168.9/L at the Chevron at 8110 Crazy Canuck Dr.
In Pemby, you can fill up for 168.9/L at AC Gas, located at 7432 Prospect St.
According to GasBuddy, one of the least expensive places for gas today in B.C. is Dewdney, where you can fill up for 137.9/L (!!) at the Centex, located 36671 Lougheed Hwy.
The cheapest you will pay for gas in Vancouver is 161.9/L at the Chevron, located at 8320 Oak St.
