Latest news with #CherylSantaMaria
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Are your peonies covered in ants? Experts say that's great news
Peonies begin to sprout in early spring -- but before they do, the buds attract a lot of attention. You may notice your peony plants are covered in ants this time of year but don't be alarmed: that's just nature doing its thing. Peonies and ants are the perfect pair. "There's an old wive's tale that says peonies won't open if you don't have ants on the buds," gardening expert Nikki Jabor told The Weather Network in 2020. "That's not really true .. but they are two different organisms that benefit from the activity of each other."When ants crawl over peony buds, they're taking advantage of the flower's nectar. They're also defending the plant against other insects that may eat the flower buds or the stems. Think of them as bodyguards, protecting your plant from dangerous insects. If you'd like to cut the flowers once they've bloomed, give them a shake and a twirl to dislodge any ants before taking them inside. Click here to view the video Thumbnail: Custom by Cheryl Santa Maria, made with elements from Canva Pro.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
B.C. records exceptional, late-April warmth to conclude February
The final day of February provided B.C. with remarkable warmth for the time of year, with temperatures exceeding 17°C in some locations. These temperatures are comparable to late-April averages, and even the first week of May. You can thank a massive ridge of high pressure for the unusually warm values. MARCH 2025 OUTLOOK: As a result of the warmth, however, there is an elevated avalanche risk this weekend for a swath of B.C. A special public avalanche warning is in effect for parts of B.C. and western Alberta's backcountry, warning of dangerous conditions possible between through to Monday, March 3, 2025. A snow slab 30-100 cm thick is sitting on weak snowpack layers, elevating the avalanche risk, Avalanche Canada said on social media. A Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect for most forecast regions across BC and Alberta until March 3. A cohesive slab of snow 30 - 100 cm thick is sitting over weak layers in the snowpack and causing dangerous avalanche conditions. Learn more at — Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) February 27, 2025 Let's take a look at the notable daytime highs we recorded in B.C. on Friday, Feb. 28. Abbotsford: 16.9°C (8°C above normal). Its warmest February day since 2005 Agassiz: 17°C (8°C above normal) Hope: 16.1°C (7°C above normal) Lytton: 15.5°C (10°C above normal) Merritt: 15.9°C (9°C above normal). Its warmest February day since Feb. 24, 1986 (16.0°C), and within 0.1°C of all-time February high. Pitt Meadows: 17.3°C (7°C above normal) Squamish: 16.7°C (12°C above normal) Victoria: 14.2°C (5°C above normal). It was Victoria's warmest February day since 2015. What caused the warmth was a towering ridge of high pressure that established itself across the province on Friday, and will stick around through Saturday, as well. The ridge is responsible for blocking storms and promoting stable, dry, and warmer conditions. The late-February sun angle is increasing, and the ridge has redirected the jet stream from the southwest, ushering in mild Pacific air. However, a more active pattern is expected to return to the South Coast for the second week of March and continue well into the second half of the month. Temperatures should be cold enough to bring heavy snow to the alpine regions, including ski areas. Backcountry users are advised to use extreme caution while the warning is in effect. Graphic by Cheryl Santa Maria for The Weather Network. Source: Avalanche Canada. Precautions include: Only using slopes that are 30 degrees and situated in clearings, open trees, and alpine terrain. Exercising extreme caution, as instability may be hard to detect. Avoiding sun-exposed slopes. Moving through avalanche terrain one person at a time, only re-grouping in open areas with no overhead hazards. Checking forecasts regularly before heading out. Bringing appropriate equipment, including a transceiver, probe, and shovel, and know how to use them. Header image: File photo via Canva Pro. Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates for B.C.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Special public avalanche warning in effect for much of B.C., Alberta backcountry
A special public avalanche warning is in effect for a swath of British Columbia and western Alberta's backcountry, warning of dangerous conditions possible between Thursday, February 27, 2025 through to Monday, March 3, 2025. A snow slab 30-100 cm thick is sitting on weak snowpack layers, elevating the avalanche risk, Avalanche Canada said on social media. A Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect for most forecast regions across BC and Alberta until March 3. A cohesive slab of snow 30 - 100 cm thick is sitting over weak layers in the snowpack and causing dangerous avalanche conditions. Learn more at — Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) February 27, 2025 "After a season of relatively stable avalanche conditions, we are entering a period of dramatic change and it is important to adapt mindsets to reflect this," reads a statement on the foundation's website. "Avalanche problems of this nature can be difficult to predict and there may be limited clues about deeper snowpack instabilities, but avalanches triggered on these layers are likely to be dangerous and destructive." Backcountry users are advised to use extreme caution while the warning is in effect. Graphic by Cheryl Santa Maria for The Weather Network. Source: Avalanche Canada. Precautions include: Only using slopes that are 30 degrees and situated in clearings, open trees, and alpine terrain. Exercising extreme caution, as instability may be hard to detect. Avoiding sun-exposed slopes. Moving through avalanche terrain one person at a time, only re-grouping in open areas with no overhead hazards. Checking forecasts regularly before heading out. Bringing appropriate equipment, including a transceiver, probe, and shovel, and know how to use them. Header image: File photo via Canva Pro.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts noted 96 per cent decline in monarch population in parts of U.S. in 2024
The number of monarch butterflies dropped by 96% in 2024, marking the second-lowest number since 1997 according to a conservation society. Known for their beautiful orange and black wings, they winter in Mexico and along the California coast. For 28 years, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation has counted monarch overwinter populations along the California coast, northern Baja California, as well as inland spots in California. In 1997, the organization recorded its highest number ever, at 1.2 million. In 2023, it counted more than 230,000 butterflies and, on Friday, the organization announced that in 2024, it only saw 9,119 butterflies, a 96 per cent decline from the previous year. It is the second-lowest count since tracking began. Another organization in Santa Barbara that counted 33,000 butterflies last winter saw only 198 in 2024. 'The population's size is extremely concerning,' Emma Pelton, an endangered species biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, said in a statement. 'We know small populations are especially vulnerable to environmental fluctuations, and we think that's what happened this year. The record high late summer temperatures and drought in the West likely contributed to the significant drop-off we saw in the third and fourth breeding generations.' Canada listed the species as endangered in 2023. In December, the U.S. proposed adding monarchs to its endangered species list. Milkweed plays a crucial role in the monarch's life cycle - their leaves are the only things they eat in the caterpillar phase. In some parts of Canada and the U.S., more than 90 per cent of it has vanished due to agricultural practices. Helping the monarch can be as simple as planting one of Canada's many native milkweed species on your property. You can take that a step further by setting up a monarch waystation and registering it online with Some Canadian organizations, like Little Wings offer free milkweed seeds, and only ask for a small donation in return. You can also visit Monarch Nation to learn about monarch conservation programs in your province. With files from April Walker. Header image by Cheryl Santa Maria using graphical elements from Canva Pro/Photoshop.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Apple watch alert leads to rescue of stranded skiers
Three skiers south of the B.C.-Washington border recently survived a harrowing ordeal, and they have their smartwatch to thank for their rescue. The trio was airlifted to safety on January 22 near Stevens Pass, Washington after the sheriff's office received an SOS alert from an Apple Watch. This alert told rescuers a skier had fallen about 300 metres, sustaining a leg injury. Upon arrival, the team discovered one skier with a broken leg, another with a twisted knee, and a third who was uninjured. Newer iPhones can connect to satellites when without cell service. An official told ABC News this could have ended in tragedy due to the temperatures and location of the incident, but modern technology came to the rescue. Header image: File photos made by Cheryl Santa Maria/Canva Pro.
