B.C. Wineries Get Support After Devastating Winter Freeze; Antarctic Stratospheric Warming Update; "No Snow By 2030"; "Hottest Day in 100,000 Years"?; + X14 Farside Solar Flare

The source of the X14 will rotate to face Earth within a week to ten days.

B.C. Wineries Get Support After Devastating Winter Freeze

On Thursday, it was announced that temporary support is on the way for the myriad of B.C. wineries devastated by a deep freeze in January that led to a massive loss of grapes.

New measures will allow the use of grapes and juice from outside the province for the 2024 vintage, helping the industry recover from the severe vine damage suffered earlier in the year.

"It's been an extraordinarily tough season, with an unprecedented freeze threatening the future of B.C.'s wine industry," said Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development and MLA for Boundary-Similkameen. "Wineries dependent on local grapes face a bleak year unless they can offset costs by sourcing grapes from outside B.C."

Paul Growers, board chair at Wine Growers British Columbia, stated, "This regulatory change offers essential survival options for B.C.'s mostly small, family-owned wineries, ensuring living-wage jobs and economic stability for our rural communities."

The wine industry, generating around $3.75 billion annually and employing over 14,000 full-time workers in B.C., desperately needed the new measures, which should provide stability through 2025 and sustain its significant economic contributions.

Miles Prodan, president and CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia, appreciates the swift response: "Just over 100 days ago, we confirmed that last winter's freeze decimated this fall's vintage, threatening not just the wine industry but also the crucial tourism and hospitality sectors. We thank the Premier, Minister Farnworth, and our local MLAs for their quick action."

Antarctic Stratospheric Warming Update

Stratospheric warming above Antarctica is expected to persist into August. This warming event could have significant atmospheric implications, particularly influencing the Southern Annular Mode (SAM).

The SAM is a climate driver for the north-south movement of the westerly wind belt that circles Antarctica. It influences weather patterns in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America, and oscillates between positive and negative phases.