—Update 1 p.m. Dec. 6—
Heavy rain is expected this evening through Saturday morning.
A rainfall warning was issued by Environment Canada late this morning.
Total rainfall amounts of 50 to 70 mm are expected.
This applies to the Sea to Sky Corridor, including Squamish and Whistler.
"A robust and rain laden frontal system will slide down the B.C. Coast today. Rain, at times heavy, will begin late this afternoon for Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky," the alert reads.
"The heaviest rain will ease later Saturday morning as the frontal system passes through. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop."
—Original story—
Happy Friday, Squamish!
Are you headed to a Taylor Swift concert this weekend
Whether you are a Swiftie heading to Vancouver or sticking it out in Squamish, this weekend is looking wet until Sunday.
Squamish meteorologist Jason Ross says that active weather will return to the south coast this weekend.
"The ridge of high pressure that has been persistent over southwestern B.C. for the past week will finally weaken and move east today," he said.
"A strong frontal system with a southwest flow will move across the area this weekend with precipitation starting as rain as a warm front moves inland this afternoon, followed by a cold front moving across the area Saturday morning, with showers persisting behind the front throughout the day on Saturday into early Sunday
morning."
He added that freezing levels start off near 2,000m before falling to around 1,000m by Saturday night.
The front brings heavy rainfall rates, so it's possible the freezing level could be lower than forecasted, he cautioned.
Between 10 and 30 cm of snow is possible over the Sea to Sky Corridor by Sunday morning.
"Alpine winds will also be very strong across the area as the front moves through Friday afternoon into Saturday.
A ridge builds off the B.C. coast on Sunday, with drier and colder conditions into Monday before the active pattern continues by mid-week."
According to Environment Canada, we will see a high of 7 C today, dipping to 5 C overnight.
B.C. extremes
Yesterday's hot spot in all of B.C. was Holland Rock (located 16 km south of Prince Rupert), which hit 11.2 C, according to Environment Canada data.
(The high in Squamish yesterday was 6.9 C.)
The coldest spot in B.C. on Dec. 5 was Fort Nelson, ( a community in northeast B.C. ) which dropped to -17.7 C.
Today's hot spot is set to be Lucy Islands Lightstation (20 km west of Prince Rupert), which could reach 10.5 C.
The coldest spots in the province are slated to be Fort Nelson, again, and Clinton, which are both set to dip to -9.8 C.
Sunrise & sunset
Sunrise on Dec. 6 is at 7:55 a.m. Sunset today will be at 4:13 p.m.
Moon phase
The moon is in its waxing crescent, phase.
The moon's illumination is currently 28.17%.
It is currently located in the constellation of Pisces, according to phasesmoon.com.
Moonrise is at 12:16 p.m.; moonset is at 9:57 p.m.
Tides
The next high tide today is at 10:10 a.m. (height: 4.8 metres), according to tide-forecast.com.
The next low tide will be at 4:20 p.m. (3.38 m); the final high tide will be at 7:38 p.m. (3.61 m).
Seawater temp
According to seatemperature.info, the water temperature in Howe Sound today is 7.7 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 8.7 C, and the coldest was recorded in 2011 at 6.6 C. Seawater temperature in Howe Sound is expected to drop to 7 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.
Tonight, check out Apres at The Club at Trickster's Hideout, located at 38005 Cleveland Ave., from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
"Calling all skiers, snowboarders, and mountain enthusiasts! After a day of carving up the slopes, keep the adrenaline going at Après at the Club... Dive into the beats of DJ Popperal and Crippledwheel, delivering the ultimate après vibes with a mix of UKG, dubstep, and 140 beats that will shake the mountains themselves!"
Dec. 7, see Sea t' Sky Big Band Wonderland at Trickster's Hideout, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
"Join us: transform the night into a winter wonderland. Our big band will take you on a journey through classic jazz standards, Latin, funk and swinging beats that’ll have you tapping your toes and feeling the festive cheer! ... Entry is by donation—your generosity will help local high school musicians pursue their dreams through The Sea T’ Sky Big Band community bursary. Whether you’re rocking a Santa hat, your favourite ugly sweater, or just a big smile, everyone’s welcome to spread the joy," reads the listing.
Also Dec. 7, there's Warhammer Game Night at Arrow Wood Games. The store is located at 38157 2 Ave.
The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m.
"Join Arrow Wood Games for a night of Warhammer. Bring your armies, friends, and get your game on," reads the listing.
"The main event is a Kill Team League organized by the local Warhammer community. Other players are also welcome to come and grab a table to play other games like Warcry or Necromunda."
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."
Healthy winter tips
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:
- 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
No major road works planned on the Sea to Sky Highway today.
Gas prices
In Squamish, regular gas is going for 167.9 cents per litre at the Squamish Valley Gas Bar, located at 9001 Valley Dr.
In Whistler, fill up for 168.9/L at the Co-op at 2101 Lake Placid Rd.
According to GasBuddy, one of the least expensive places for gas today in B.C. is Fort St John where you can fill up for 139.9/L (!!) at the Centex, located at 9605 100th St.
The cheapest you will pay for gas in Vancouver is 161.9/L at the Esso & Husky, located at 1010 W King Edward Ave.
