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Monday, January 30, 2017
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Selected Morning Star Newsclips - In case you missed them.
Water treatment - Another approach.
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Former President's Job hunt!
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Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Monday, January 9, 2017
Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin – January 1st, 2017
Table
1 - BC Snow Basin Indices – January 1, 2017
Basin
|
% of
Normal
|
Basin
|
% of
Normal
|
Upper Fraser
West
|
59*
|
Boundary
|
73
|
Upper Fraser
East
|
62
|
Similkameen
|
100*
|
Nechako
|
90
|
South Coast
|
114
|
Middle
Fraser
|
82
|
Vancouver
Island
|
98
|
Lower
Fraser
|
111
|
Central
Coast
|
87*
|
North
Thompson
|
87
|
Skagit
|
110*
|
South
Thompson
|
100
|
Peace
|
59
|
Upper
Columbia
|
88
|
Skeena-Nass
|
65
|
West
Kootenay
|
80
|
Stikine
|
54*
|
East
Kootenay
|
87
|
Liard
|
49*
|
Okanagan
|
79
|
Northwest
|
NO
DATA
|
The
January 1st snow survey is now complete. Data from 77 snow courses
and 69 automated snow weather stations around the province, collected by the
Ministry of Environment Snow Survey Program and partners, and climate data from
Environment and Climate Change Canada have been used to form the basis of the
following report1.
Full
details on the snow bulletin, including the snow basin index map and snow survey
data can be found at: http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/bulletins/watersupply/current.htm
Weather
Fall
and early-winter weather had been variable across the province. October featured
near-normal temperatures across most of the province, with wet conditions
through southern BC and the North-East, and drier than normal conditions through
the Central and North Coast.
November
was extremely warm across the province, with most areas experiencing monthly
average temperatures that were 2-5˚C above normal. Weather patterns were
dominated by Pacific storm cycles. November was generally wetter than normal
across the province, and much wetter than normal in south-west BC. Numerous
significant storm events in November led to flooding on Vancouver Island and the
South and Central Coast.
Weather
patterns flipped in December, ushering in the dominance of Arctic air across
British Columbia. Monthly temperatures were typically 2-5˚C below normal across
the province. Precipitation through December was generally below normal to near
normal across the province, with some areas of the South Interior experiencing
above-normal precipitation. While precipitation amounts were not exceptional,
cold temperatures led to much higher than normal (typically 130-300% of normal)
snowfall throughout December for low elevation areas of south-west
BC.
Two
key weather factors have been driving the seasonal snowpack development this
year. First is the extremely warm November period across the province. This led
to a delay in the early season accumulation of snow, and in some areas led to
melting of the early season snow that had fallen in October. During November,
river runoff from melting snow and moderate to heavy rainfall, led to extremely
high seasonal flows for most river systems in the BC Interior. The second key
weather driver has been the dominance of Arctic air across the province through
December. This has led to dry conditions, particularly across northern BC, and
cold conditions across the province. Colder than normal temperatures in
south-west BC has led to much greater snow accumulations at low elevation, while
the impact on higher elevation snowpack has been modest. Snow at low elevation
has been much higher than normal through December, with many areas receiving
twice as much snow as normal, or more.
Table
1 - BC Snow Basin Indices – January 1, 2017
Basin
|
% of
Normal
|
Basin
|
% of
Normal
|
Upper Fraser
West
|
59*
|
Boundary
|
73
|
Upper Fraser
East
|
62
|
Similkameen
|
100*
|
Nechako
|
90
|
South Coast
|
114
|
Middle
Fraser
|
82
|
Vancouver
Island
|
98
|
Lower
Fraser
|
111
|
Central
Coast
|
87*
|
North
Thompson
|
87
|
Skagit
|
110*
|
South
Thompson
|
100
|
Peace
|
59
|
Upper
Columbia
|
88
|
Skeena-Nass
|
65
|
West
Kootenay
|
80
|
Stikine
|
54*
|
East
Kootenay
|
87
|
Liard
|
49*
|
Okanagan
|
79
|
Northwest
|
NO
DATA
|
*Note
January 1st snow basin index values are based on limited observation
points
January’s
snow survey schedule features fewer individual snow survey measurements than
occur in later survey periods in the year. Some January 1st snow
basin indices are therefore based on a very limited number of surveys (e.g. 1-2
surveys within the snow basin) (Table 1) making the data interpretation less
robust compared to survey periods later in the season. All available January
1st snow measurements are provided at the end of this
report.
Outlook
Weak
La Niña conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean appear to have peaked. The
Climate Prediction Centre (CPC) at the U.S. National Weather Service/NOAA is
forecasting La Niña conditions to weaken through the remainder of the winter,
and is forecasting a high likelihood of neutral ENSO conditions by the January
to March period. Typically, La Niña is linked to cooler and wetter winters
across British Columbia. Snowpacks tend to be higher than normal; however,
there has been a large range of variability in snowpack during La Niña winters
in the past. Given the weak nature of the current La Niña cycle, there is
greater uncertainty regarding how it will influence this year’s
conditions.
Seasonal
forecasts from Environment and Climate Change Canada are indicating an increased
likelihood of below-normal temperatures across northern and western British
Columbia over the January to March period. Short-to-medium term forecasts are
suggesting colder temperatures through the middle of January, and an increased
likelihood of warmer conditions into the second half of the
month.
By
early January, nearly half of the annual BC snowpack has typically accumulated.
At
this early stage in the season, there is limited indication that any regions of
the province are developing increased seasonal flood risk. Currently observed
low snow pack in some regions of the province, particularly the northern third
of the province, is an early indication of the potential for lower than normal
stream flow in the spring and summer this year. However, with three or more
months left of snow accumulation, these outlooks could change
significantly.
The
River Forecast Centre will continue to monitor snow pack conditions and will
provide an updated seasonal flood risk forecast in the February 1st
2017 bulletin, which is scheduled for release on February
7th.
BC
River Forecast Centre
January 9, 2017
January 9, 2017
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Tax on Tax Signature Update: (GST being charged on Carbon Tax) (5 days online)
From VernonBlog!
Please Consider supporting this petition at.
https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-713
e-713 (Tax system) 42nd Parliament
Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
The Government of British Columbia instituted a carbon tax in 2008 and the federal government GST (currently at 5%) is still being charged on this carbon tax.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to eliminate the GST being charged on this or any other future carbon tax enacted by the provinces or territories.
Initiated by bob spiers from Vernon, British Columbia, on January 4, 2017, at 1:32 p.m. (EDT)
Sponsor Mel Arnold North Okanagan—Shuswap Conservative British Columbia
Open for signature : January 4, 2017, at 1:32 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature : May 4, 2017, at 1:32 p.m. (EDT)
Signatures (926)
Province / Territory Signatures
Alberta 33
British Columbia 855
Manitoba 7
Newfoundland and Labrador 1
New Brunswick 1
Nova Scotia 2
Nunavut 1
Ontario 20
Quebec 1
Saskatchewan 4
Other Countries 1 (citizens of Canada)
Please Consider supporting this petition at.
https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-713
e-713 (Tax system) 42nd Parliament
Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
The Government of British Columbia instituted a carbon tax in 2008 and the federal government GST (currently at 5%) is still being charged on this carbon tax.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to eliminate the GST being charged on this or any other future carbon tax enacted by the provinces or territories.
Initiated by bob spiers from Vernon, British Columbia, on January 4, 2017, at 1:32 p.m. (EDT)
Sponsor Mel Arnold North Okanagan—Shuswap Conservative British Columbia
Open for signature : January 4, 2017, at 1:32 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature : May 4, 2017, at 1:32 p.m. (EDT)
Signatures (926)
Province / Territory Signatures
Alberta 33
British Columbia 855
Manitoba 7
Newfoundland and Labrador 1
New Brunswick 1
Nova Scotia 2
Nunavut 1
Ontario 20
Quebec 1
Saskatchewan 4
Other Countries 1 (citizens of Canada)
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Sunday, January 8, 2017
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Selected Morning Star Newsclips - In case you missed them.
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Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Gym Gets Support For Non Farm Use
Pete McIntyre/Kiss FM photo
Posted on
1/4/2017 5:21 PM
by
Pete McIntyre
It was one of the biggest turnouts for a regional district meeting in recent memory.
About 150 people packed RDNO's boardroom and foyer, showing their support for the Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastic Club.
The club had faced having its gym on East Vernon Road in the BX
shut down due to a zoning conflict, but the board's electoral advisory
committee unanimously agreed to work with the business to allow non-farm
use, pending approval from the agricultural land commission.
Owner Camille Martens is pleased they can keep operating, but wonders why they have to get building code approval.
"We've given them reports from engineers saying its safe. The fact
that now we would have to conform to new building permit rules, I don't
totally understand the implications of what that means. I hope it's good
news," Martens told Kiss FM and other media.
Board chair Bob Fleming says he would be surprised if the ALC
didn't support the non farm use, noting the huge support the club has.
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TAX on TAX (GST being charged on Carbon Tax)
Councillor Spiers is petitioning the Government of Canada to eliminate the GST on the Carbon Tax charged by the Province of BC (and presumably by other provinces in the future). This GST defeats the claim that the carbon tax would be revenue neutral as this money leaves the province and becomes part of the Federal tax revenue.
If you support this initiative and wish to sign the petition you may do so by accessing the signing link. For further information please visit the Vernonblog.
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Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Maintenance causes Highway 6 traffic disruption
- Morning Star News
- Coldstream posted Jan 3, 2017 at 9:00 AM
Motorists are being advised of some traffic disruptions on Highway 6 this week.
Electrical maintenance will take place in Coldstream from
Ricardo to Murphy Road daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, Jan.
6.
The road will be reduced to single lane alternating traffic during maintenance.
For updates visit Drive BC.
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The opinions expressed by "Coldstreamer" are strictly his own and do not represent the opinions of Coldstream Council!
Because I value your thoughtful opinions, I encourage you to add a comment to this discussion. Don't be offended if I edit your comments for clarity or to keep out questionable matters, however, and I may even delete off-topic comments.
Gyula Kiss
coldstreamer@shaw.ca;
About Me
- Coldstreamer
- I have been a resident of Coldstream since 1976. I have had 15 years of experience on Council, 3 years as Mayor. As a current Councillor I am working to achieve fair water and sewer rates and to ensure that taxpayers get fair treatment. The current direction regarding water supply is unsustainable and I am doing all I can to get the most cost effective water supply possible.