The long weekend is here, Squamish!
Squamish meteorologist Jason Ross says that an upper trough will bring unsettled conditions to the B.C. coast this long weekend, with clouds and rain at times.
Rainfall will be heavy at times along the B.C. coast and western Vancouver Island, while snowfall (SNOW!) could occur over alpine terrain with the freezing level between 1,500-2,000m.
Sunday into early Monday is expected to be the driest period of the weekend.
The not so great weather isn't going to wreck our vibe, right?
Friday will reach a high of 14 C and an overnight low of 10 C.
Sunset will be at 8:52 p.m. tonight.
The UV index will only hit 2, or low.
Moon phase
The moon is in its waning gibbous phase.
"The waning gibbous phase follows the full moon, where the illuminated portion of the moon gradually decreases, from 99% down to 71%. This phase marks the beginning of the moon's journey toward the last quarter, as the light slowly fades away.
During this time, the moon’s light is still strong, but the cycle of decline has begun," reads phasesmoon.com.
The moon's illumination is currently 85.06%, meaning that is the percentage of the moon illuminated by the sun.
It is currently located in the constellation of Sagittarius.
Seawater temp
The water temperature in Howe Sound today is 13 C at the Halibut Bank buoy, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
May average water temperature in Howe Sound is 13.2 C, the minimum temperature is 9.9 C, and the maximum is 18 C.
Allergens
According to Aerobiology Research Laboratories data, this is the pollen situation today in our region:
Pollen: Moderate
Spores: Low
Today's top allergens
Pine, Fir, Spruce (Moderate)
All Fungal Spores (Low)
Alder (Low)
Tomorrow, May 17
Pollen: High
Spores: Low
Tomorrow's Top allergens
Pine, Fir, Spruce (Moderate)
All Fungal Spores (Low)
Alder (Low)
May 18
Pollen: High
Spores: Low
B.C. extremes
Yesterday's hot spot in all of B.C. was Ashcroft, which saw a high of 21.8 C, according to Environment Canada data.
The high in Squamish yesterday was 14.1 C.
The coldest spot in B.C. on May 15 was Clinton, which dipped to -2.8 C.
The coldest spot in Canada yesterday was Tuktut Nogait National Park, NT (a national park located in the Northwest Territories that was established in 1998. Its name means "young caribou."),which dipped to -20.2 C.
The hottest spot in Canada on May 14, was Miramichi, NB (Miramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick), which hit 32.6 C. (!!)
Other stuff you should know
Long weekend warnings
If you are coming to visit Squamish this weekend, the District provides the following advice to make it a pleasant visit for all involved.
Be bear aware
Bears are out and active. Don’t leave food or bags unattended, especially at trailheads like Smoke Bluffs. Store all scented items properly and make sure to pack out everything you bring in.
Be FireSmart
While recent rain has helped, conditions can dry out quickly. Avoid anything that could start a fire and follow all local rules and restrictions.
Know before you go (and park)
There’s day-use parking at Smoke Bluffs, the Adventure Centre, and Brennan Park Recreation Centre. Street parking is an option too, just check the signs before you leave your car.
Camping? Plan ahead.
Sites fill up quickly, and a lot of popular spots may already be booked. Check out Tourism Squamish for info on where to camp responsibly.
Water restrictions
Water restrictions began on Thursday, 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.
Weekly organics collection is back
The District has announced on their Facebook page that organics collection has resumed to being a weekly event as opposed to bi-weekly.
"Please ensure your yard waste/organics totes are closed at the time of collection. Totes with flipped back lids and tree branches longer than 24 inches or greater than 2 inches in diameter can both damage the bear-proof banding on your tote and disable the truck," reads the District website.
"Any overfilled totes will be marked indicating 'oversized yard waste' and will not be serviced on collection day."
Have too much organic or yard waste then you can fit in your tote? You can stockpile it until you can fit it in your tote at a later date.
"Use a backyard composter, leave grass clippings on the lawn, take it to the Squamish Landfill Public Depot for a small fee, or ask your neighbours if they have any extra space," the District writes.
How to use your organics tote:
- Collect food scraps and food soiled paper in your kitchen container. You can line your kitchen container with newspaper or paper bags, or use it on its own. Plastic bags of any type are not permitted - even those that claim they are compostable. Watch this YouTube video demonstrating how to make a liner from newspaper or download these instructions. The "Green Lid" compostable bins are also acceptable.
- Empty your kitchen container into your organics tote and layer with yard waste if possible. Rinse your kitchen catcher regularly.
- Place your unlocked organics totes curbside by 7:45 am on your collection day. Your organics tote will be collected bi-weekly, year round, on the same day as your recycling tote.
Be bear aware
It is prime bear season, with more of our furry friends recently spotted around town.
Specifically, the District says that our local Conservation Officer Service officers have received reports of black bears in the Smoke Bluffs area, particularly around the Free and Easy crag. A bear has been seen accessing unattended climbers’ bags and food.
The District warns residents to keep their wits about them at all times when out and about, to keep both humans and bears safe.
Here are some tips the muni recently posted:
If you're biking, hiking, or recreating in bear country, here are a few safety reminders:
→ Carry bear spray and know how to use it
→ Travel in groups and make noise to avoid surprising a bear
→ Keep dogs leashed and close by
→ Be extra cautious around berry patches, salmon-bearing streams, and other foraging areas
At home, you can help prevent bear conflicts by:
→ Storing garbage, compost, and pet food securely
→ Keeping bird feeders out of reach
→ Cleaning and securing barbecues
→ Harvesting fruit trees and clearing windfall
To report wildlife sightings or encounters, call the Conservation Officer Service Hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
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 ⬇️.
