We have a wee patch of spring-like rainy weather before we get a preview of summer later this week.
Squamish meteorologist Jason Ross says a cold upper trough will dig southward from the Gulf of Alaska towards the south coast today. A pool of cool, unstable air will bring showery conditions with a risk of thunderstorms.
Environment Canada says we will see a high of 12 C today, dipping down to 7 C tonight.
According to Weatherhood, which has a station on The Squamish Chief's roof downtown, it is already 11 C at 8:30 a.m.
Sunset is at 8:40 p.m. tonight.
Tides
The next low tide today is at 11:14 a.m. (1.15 metres).
The next high tide is 5:55 p.m. (4.3 m).
Tonight's low tide will be at 11:12 p.m. (2.83 m).
Ross says that a strong ridge of high pressure will build across southwestern B.C. by midweek, with warming and dry conditions through next weekend.
"Expect a significant warm up later in the week with high temperatures pushing towards the 30s for inland areas of the south coast," he said.
On this day
- The average temperature on May 6 in Squamish is 17 C, according to Environment Canada data.
- The average low temperature is 6 C.
- The highest temperature we have seen on this day (1983-2023) was 31.4 C in 2016.
- The lowest recorded temperature was -0.8 C in 2003.
- The greatest precipitation we have seen on this day was 23.2 millimetres in 1999.
Gas prices
This morning, all the stations in Squamish are selling regular gas at 207.9 cents per litre. (The national average price is 163.2/L.)
Gas at Whistler pumps is 206.9/L
In Pemberton, the price this morning is 201.9/L.
(Find daily gas prices in the Sea to Sky on our webpage.)
Motorcycles on the roads
May means more motorcycles on the Sea to Sky Highway.
May is also provincially declared Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
According to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, six out of 10 crashes involving a motorcycle in B.C. happen at an intersection.
"Police report that driver distraction, failing to yield the right of way, and improper turning are the top factors for vehicles that collide with motorcycles," reads the ICBC site.
The Crown corporation provides the following tips for drivers:
- Scan intersections carefully and take an extra moment to look for motorcycles when turning left.
- Stay alert and avoid distractions that take your mind off driving or your eyes off the road.
- Allow at least three or four seconds of following distance behind a motorcycle and plenty of lane space when you pass.
- Be ready to yield, as a motorcycle is often closer than it seems. Remember, it can be hard to tell how fast they're travelling.
Find more tips on safe motorcycle riding on ICBC's website.
Events
As always, there are plenty of events in town this week.
On Thursday night (May 9), Small Town Artillery is playing at Trickster's Hideout. Friday night, The Brice Tabish Band is at the Hideout.
Check out more local events at squamishchief.com/local-events.
If you want to see your local event get a shout-out in our daily weather updates, be sure to enter it into our free self-serve events portal. Here’s a pdf that explains how to do that.
*Please note that this story is updated often, as the weather changes.
