Happy Thursday, Squamish.
Today, we will see a few showers ending this morning then mainly cloudy, according to Environment Canada.
Upcoming bus route change
A sure sign the end of summer is near, BC Transit and the District of Squamish are reminding riders that the Route 5 South Parks bus, which travels from downtown to several locations and attractions, including Oceanfront Squamish, will end for the season as of Sept. 3.
Free weekend transit will also end for the season.
"Customers are encouraged to use the Umo app,Transit app, Google Transit or any other real time trip planning app to see trip times and plan your journey," reads the news release.
For more information about trip planning, schedules and to sign up for customer alerts, go to bctransit.com/squamish
Dollarama opening?
Folks have been asking us when Dollarama will open downtown in the former Dollar Tree location on Winnipeg Street.
A spokesperson said the second Dollarama store is set to open by the end of the year.
This will have no impact on the other Dollarama location in Garibaldi Village, which will continue to operate.
Not a lot of exacting detail from the company, but that's what we know.
Campfire bans
Due to the extended hot and dry weather we have seen earlier this summer, the BC Wildfire Service rated the danger of wildfire in Squamish as a 5, or extreme for weeks.
Today, the rating is at 3, or moderate danger.
"Forest fuels are drying and there is an increased risk of surface fires starting. Carry out any forest activities with caution," reads the provincial government's website.
There are currently 348 wildfires burning in B.C. as of Aug. 22.
Given the above, it is not surprising that there is a municipal campfire ban in place for Squamish.
There's also a ban on Category 2 and Category 3 open fires.
The following activities are not allowed:
- Campfires (Category 1)
- Category 2, Category 3 open fires
- Fireworks
- Sky Lanterns
- Binary Exploding Targets
- Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
- Air Curtain Burners
- Tiki torches
- Wood-burning saunas and hot tubs
The following are never allowed in Squamish:
- Fires in any public space, including forests, riverbanks, mountainsides, beaches
- Open Air Burning, including but not limited to: yard waste, garden debris and construction materials
Still allowed are cooking stoves that use gas, or propane, or portable campfire devices that use liquid, or gaseous fuel, provided the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.
There's also a BC Wildfire Service province wide campfire ban that went into effect on July 12.
This means that in addition to campfires not being allowed within Squamish, they are not permitted in any areas outside of it.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 911 if within the municipal boundaries, or, if outside the district, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.
Still no kiting at oceanfront beach
In the wake of a man's death, while he was kiteboarding off of Sp'akw'us Feather Park on July 1, the District of Squamish has temporarily closed the beach to kiteboarding while an investigation into the incident is underway.
"Kites are being restricted out of caution to ensure public safety. Wingfoiling and windsurfing continue to be permitted," a District release states.
Access to Pepahím̓ (Spit Island) for kiteboarding is available through a shuttle operated by the Squamish Windsports Society.
Shuttles take place daily between noon and 7 p.m., with access to the shuttle launch a short walk from the Sp’akw’us Feather parking lot.
Visit squamishwindsports.com for more information and current weather conditions.
Sunrise & sunset
Sunrise on Aug. 22 was at 6:15 a.m. Sunset today will be at 8:15 p.m
Moon phase
The moon is in its waning gibbous phase.
"The term waning means decreasing, and the term gibbous means 'humped-back.' Therefore, this phase is called waning gibbous because the surface area of the moon that you see is decreasing and the shape of the lit-up part of the moon looks like a hump-back," according to Kopernik Observatory & Science Center.
The moon's illumination is currently 88.12%, meaning that is the percentage of the moon illuminated by the sun, according to phasesmoon.com.
The moon is currently located in the constellation of Pisces.
It is currently 363,342.08 kilometres from Earth.
Moonrise is at 9:33 p.m.; moonset is at 10:08 a.m.
Tides
Low tide today is at 2:02 p.m. (Height: 1.4 metres); the next high tide is at 8:36 p.m. (4.7 m), according to the site tides.today.
Seawater temps
The current surface water temperature in Howe Sound on Aug. 22, measured at Halibut Bank (49.34N 123.72W), is 16 C, according to this Government of Canada site.
Good fishing day?
According to fishingreminder.com, Aug. 22 is set to be an "average" fishing day in Squamish.
The best, or major, bite time today is between 2:51 p.m. to 4:51 p.m.
How are these bite times calculated, anyway?
"The gravitational pull of the moon affects tidal movement, while the sunrise and sunset times can help anglers predict when the fish are going to bite. Many anglers feel that fish are most active on a full moon or new moon, and that activity is at a low on a quarter moon or a three-quarter moon," reads the Take Me Fishing site.
Events to note
Here are some local events you might want to attend:
•Tonight, there's Karaoke Thursdays at Trickster's Hideout from 7 p.m. to 11: 30 p.m. The nightclub is located at 38005 Cleveland Avenue.
"Join Us for a Night of Musical Magic at our recurring Thursday Karaoke Night event! Prepare to be entertained, whether you're a singing sensation or a shower crooner, because everyone's a star at the Trickster's," reads the listing.
•On Aug. 23, head up the Sea to Sky Gondola for Jocelyn Pettit: Sea to Sky Gondola - Mountain Music Series, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
"From the West Coast of Canada, Jocelyn Pettit is a vibrant fiddle player, stepdancer and singer of Scottish, Irish, French, and Malaysian heritage. With uplifting energy and engaging stage presence, Jocelyn integrates the Celtic and folk traditions of her roots into her performances and original compositions," reads the listing.
•Also on Aug. 23, head downtown for Surf Hat at the Arc'Teryx Climbing Academy, from 8 p.m. to midnight at Junction Park.
"Surf Hat are a psych-surf group from Squamish, BC, Canada. Their debut record “Surf Hat” has gathered over a millions streams and they have established a rapidly growing fan-base across North America," reads the listing.
•Aug. 24, catch Stickybuds, at Trickster's Hideout from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
"Known for his unique blend of funk, breaks, reggae, and drum and bass, Stickybuds promises a night of unforgettable beats and energetic vibes," reads the listing.
•Sept. 4, nerds unite at Nerd Nite S2S, at the Brackendale Art Gallery: Café & Culture Centre, at 41950 Government Road, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
"Three fun 18-minute presentations on different subjects. Eat, drink and learn," 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."
On this day
- The average high temperature on this day in Squamish is 23.6 C.
- The average low temperature on Aug. 22 is 11.5 C.
- The highest temperature on this day (1982-2023) was 30.7 C in 2017.
- The lowest temperature seen on this day in the district was 7.1 C in 1985.
- The most precipitation we have seen on this day was 39.7 millimetres in 2011.
Looking ahead
Friday, we will see a mix of sun and cloud, with a high of 23 C and a low down to 14 C.
The weekend is looking rainy, with highs in the teens.
Gas prices
According to our latest data, on Aug. 22, regular gas in Squamish is cheapest at the Squamish Valley Gas Bar, located at 9001 Valley Dr., where you can fill up for 176.9 cents per litre.
In Whistler, gas is selling for 177.9/L at the Co-op at 2101 Lake Placid Rd.
In Pemby, petrol is at the pump for 175.9/L at AC Gas at 7432 Prospect St.
The least expensive gas we could find today in B.C., was in Chilliwack, where you can fill up for 155.9/L, at the Centex at 45571 Yale Rd, according to GasBuddy.
Road warnings
•On Highway 99, in both directions, drivers can expect road sweeping between Kelvin Grove Way and Old Cariboo Rd for 294.7 km (Lions Bay to 70 km north of Lillooet). The work is planned from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., until Today, Aug. 22.
•On Highway 99, watch for paving between Ansell Pl and Ocean Point Dr for 3.9 km (2 km south of Lions Bay to West Vancouver). Work starts at 6:30 a.m. and runs until Thursday, Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. One lane will be closed for 24 hours. Lane closures will be alternating from left lane to right lane.
•On Highway 99, northbound, watch for tree pruning that is planned between Copper Dr and Watts Point Rd for 3.7 km, starting Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 9.a.m. until 3 p.m. The right lane will be blocked. The tree trimming is for BC Hydro vegetation maintenance.
•On Highway 99, northbound, watch for construction work between Park St and Portage Rd (Pemberton), until Sunday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.. The shoulder is expected to be closed. Work is for the drilling of new watermain at junction of Pemberton Meadows Road and Collins Road.
Find the latest road warnings on the DriveBC site.
