110 BCBusiness JuLY 2015
Sure, it was an omen of climate change, but our unseasonably warm
winter was a welcome treat for many British Columbians (diehard skiers
aside). For industry, however, the blessings are mixed. Depending on
your sector, a mild winter can be a gift from the global warming gods,
hell on profit–or like the weather itself, dashed with uncertainty
A mild winter can be good
or bad news for blueberries.
The major Fraser Valley crop
began budding early this year
(February instead of March),
which briefly
had farmers
worrying that
a cold snap
could kill an
otherwise
early start.
As with blueberries, an
early spring can help or
hurt wine grapes. Overall,
however, a warming
world will likely benefit
Okanagan wine country
(and endanger more
southern wine regions
like California). Already,
some B.C. wineries
have begun growing
more red wine
grapes, which
prefer warmer
climates.
According to FortisBC,
we can expect lower gas
bills this year. The reason?
A mild winter resulted in
lower demand for natural gas
and "significant increases
in overall gas supply." The
commodity rate is the lowest
it's been in 10 years.
The Weather Map
by Trevor Melanson
illustration by Suharu Ogawa
