Weekend trading in the stock phrase “spring is just around the corner” fell sharply in Vancouver as temperatures unexpectedly plunged to winter levels not seen for two weeks or more.

As a result, early Monday morning (March 9) saw sidewalks peppered with road salt, roads stripped with salt brine, and cars covered in frost and wreathed in clouds of exhaust.

According to those who specialize in forecasting weather futures, Vancouver residents will have to bear up under winter-like overnight lows for the rest of the week—though they should be able to take profit from a 10 ° C spread between early morning and late afternoon.

It may shake the confidence of Vancouver residents emotionally invested in the idea that winter is virtually over but not to worry, say analysts, this seasonal “correction” will be short-lived.

And anyway, when we say “winterlike overnight lows”, we mean Vancouver winterlike—which means spring-like in almost any other part of Canada.

We should never sell our wonderful West Coast climate short.