Olympics Weather Forecast – Feb 25
South-west British Columbia Weather Forecast.
Thursday 25 February to Monday 1 March 2010
Issued Thursday 25 February 2010. By Mountainwatch.com Meteorologist Aaron Cook
Summary
The promised snow arrived Wednesday and after another few cm early Thursday morning things will ease during the afternoon before a good dump on Friday. A few more flurries Saturday and Sunday as the games wrap up.
Synoptic Outlook
A low pressure system is sitting off the coast directing a southerly flow over BC. However a strong high-pressure ridge over the centre of the continent stops the low from making any real progress inland. The weather will come and go over the next few days as a series of low pressure troughs revolve around the low, bringing snow and strong winds.
Thursday 25 February
After 5 to 10cm of early morning snow, a weak ridge develops in the afternoon, which will suppress snow showers for a few hours. Winds will be fresh southerly or south easterly and freezing levels around 1100m will see snow down to 800m.
Friday 26 February
The low continues to churn away in the Pacific. Friday will see about a centimetre per hour of snow in fresh south-easterlies. During the day freezing levels rise gradually to 1400m, so snow levels rise to about 1100m. Below that it will be a bit messy.
Saturday 27 February
A few flurries above 1100m early, with showers below. But a ridge of high pressure develops in the afternoon, keeping the snow at bay for a few hours and paving the way for the sun to make an appearance. Winds will be variable
Sunday 28 February
A few more flurries above 1100m with showers below, as the low pressure system takes another swipe at the coast, directing cool southerly winds over BC.
Monday 1 March
Becoming warmer Monday as the freezing level rises to 1600m. As another trough moves over in the evening we see flurries above 1300m and rain showers below.
Extended Outlook
The next snow should arrive Tuesday, bringing another 10cm and the crystal ball looks good for a few centimetres per day until next weekend.
This is our last forecast for Vancouver 2010, but come back for frequent forecasts for Australian and New Zealand resorts this southern winter, with regular commentary from skiing expert Steve Lee in Australia and David Winterburn in NZ.
Whistler 7 Day Forecast Chart & 3-Day Video Forecast
Whistler Live Snow Cams
South-west British Columbia Weather Forecast.
Tuesday 23 February to Saturday 27 February 2010
Issued Sunday Tuesday 23 February 2010. By Aaron Cook
Summary
It’s about to get a wit cold and windy for a few days. A few flurries Tuesday night then bigger falls on Wednesday with stronger winds. The weather eases to light snow on Thursday, but comes back with a vengeance Friday. Over the period we could see 40cm at Thredbo and perhaps 20cm at Cypress. Freezing levels around 1100m should see snow fall to about 800m.
Saturday at this stage is looking fine and just a few flurries are expected Sunday as the games wrap up.
Synoptic Outlook
A low pressure system churning away in the Pacific is boss for the next week. It directs an unstable south or southwest flow over south-western BC and there will be plenty of moisture embedded in this flow. A high pressure ridge develops briefly on Saturday, but by Sunday afternoon the SW flow should return.
Tuesday 23 February
Cloudy. Freezing level drops from 1500m to 1100m over the day and flurries develop above 900m from the afternoon.
Wednesday 24 February
Cloudy. Strong, gusty winds in a SW flow and snow showers above 800m. Whistler should see 15 to 20cm over the day, Cypress about 10cm.
Thursday 25 February
Things ease off Thursday as pressures rise slightly. The few more flurries could bring another few cm above 800m. Winds tend southerly.
Friday 26 February
South-west winds strengthen again and more snow arrives. 15 to 20cm at Whistler and 5cm at Cypress.
Saturday 27 February
Fine during the day, but possibly a few flurries at night.
Extended Outlook
Sunday will see a few more flurries but nothing too extreme – although it looks like there could be another 10cm on Monday for Whistler – enough to contribute to any final celebrations before Vancouver starts its clean-up.
Whistler 7 Day Forecast Chart & 3-Day Video Forecast
Whistler Live Snow Cams
South-west British Columbia Weather Forecast.
Sunday 21 February to Thursday 24 February 2010
Issued Sunday 21 February 2010. By Aaron Cook.
Summary
The bad weather we talked about in our last forecast has slowed down by about 12 hours and is now due arrive with a whimper Tuesday night. The wind will pick up Wednesday and we could see unsettled weather all the way through to the end of the Olympics.
Synoptic Outlook
There’s a high pressure system hanging on by its fingertips – but by Tuesday it packs its bags and a broad area of lower pressure moves through, bringing with it stronger winds and about 10cm of snow above 1200m. Things will ease off on Thursday before another trough of low pressure moves sweeps across BC on Friday, bringing with it strong winds and another 10 to 15cm above 1000m
Sunday 21 February
More of the sun we’ve seen the last few days as a ridge of high pressure continues to suppress any cloud development. North-easterlies and a freezing level around 1800m.
Monday 22 February
The last of the sunny weather as the high begins to break down. There may be a bit of high cloud developing in the afternoon as winds swing around to the south. Freezing level 1800m
Tuesday 23 February
Fine early but cloud increasing and a few very light flurries developing above 1200m later in the evening as a trough of low pressure moves through BC. Southerly winds as the freezing level drops to 1400m.
Wednesday 24 February
Strong, gusty winds in a SW flow and flurries above 800m. Whistler should see 10cm of fresh.
Thursday 25 February
Things ease off a bit Thursday as pressures rise again. The few more flurries could bring another 5cm above 800m. Winds tend south-easterly.
Extended Outlook
Some of the models suggest it could get a bit nasty on Friday with a front moving through bringing strong winds and a good 15cm of snow. Check back Tuesday for an update.
Whistler 7 Day Forecast Chart & 3-Day Video Forecast
Whistler Live Snow Cams
South-west British Columbia Weather Forecast.
Saturday 20 February to Wednesday 24 February 2010
Issued Friday 19 February 2010 by Aaron Cook.
Summary
The fine weather will hold for the next 3 days, possibly with some high cloud starting to make its presence felt on Monday. Cloud and some very light rain or flurries move in early Tuesday morning and unsettled weather continues Wednesday, which should provide about 10cm above 1000m.
Synoptic Outlook
The high pressure system that’s provided the fine weather of the last couple of days will lie over the area for a couple more days. It acts as a barrier to any weather trying to move in. It’s likely to remain fine and sunny till Monday.
A low pressure regime will stage a coup on Tuesday with a front arriving in the morning, followed by a few days of unsettled SW winds.
Saturday 20 February
A ridge of high pressure continues to lie over BC. Fine and sunny with light north-easterlies. Freezing level around 1800m.
Sunday 21 February
More fine weather as the ridge of high pressure persists. Light north-easterlies, Freezing level fluctuates around 2000m.
Monday 22 February
Fine early, but higher cloud developing in the afternoon. Variable winds ahead of a front moving through Tuesday morning. North-easterly winds tending easterly. Freezing level around 2000m
Tuesday 23 February
Cloudy with maybe a flurry or two as a weak warm front moves through. But there’s not enough moisture initially to create much in the way of snow. Winds will gradually move around southerly, then south-westerly. Freezing level drops back to 1500m
Wednesday 24 February
A south-westerly flow settles in, bringing cool, unsettled weather and some snow showers – possibly looking good for about 10cm above 800m, but hard to tell at this stage. Freezing level drops down to about 1100m
Extended Outlook
Snow flurries should continue above 800m on Thursday. At this stage models have things easing up briefly on Friday before a return to some rain Saturday. The crystal ball will look clearer in a couple of days, so check back Monday for an update.
Whistler 7 Day Forecast Chart & 3-Day Video Forecast
Whistler Live Snow Cams
South-west British Columbia Weather Forecast.
Wednesday 17 February to Sunday 21 February 2010
Issued Wednesday 17 February 2010. By Aaron Cook.
Summary
The next 5 days are going to bring plenty of sun-filled days and chilly nights. Don’t forget the sunscreen but make sure you have an extra blanket too – the clear skies should promote plenty of overnight surface-cooling.
The next snow for Cypress and Whistler looks like it will come through around Tuesday, hopefully providing a nice top-up for the last few days of Vancouver 010
Synoptic Outlook
The first couple of days of the period are dominated by a big fat high pressure system that sits over northern BC. “Highs” mean sinking air in the atmosphere. Sinking air warms because the pressure goes up (like when you pump up a bike tire and it gets hot). Relative humidity drops too, which is terrible news for clouds, let alone rain and snow.
Pressures gradually fall during the week, but remain high enough to ward off any weather. Freezing levels loiter around 1800m, so there may be a bit of thawing during the day on both Whistler and Cypress, followed by freezing at night.
Wednesday 17 February
Cool and crisp early. Fine with few clouds and light north-easterlies. Freezing level sits around 1500m.
Thursday 18 February
Cool and crisp early. Fine with few clouds and light north-easterlies. Freezing level rises to 1800m.
Friday 19 February
Cool and crisp early. Fine with few clouds and light north-easterlies. Freezing level sits around 1800m.
Saturday 20 February
Cool and crisp early. Fine with few clouds and light easterlies. Freezing level sits around 1800m.
Sunday 21 February
Cool and crisp early. A few clouds developing later. Light easterlies. Freezing level sits around 1800m.
Extended Outlook
Models currently have a front coming through around Monday night, so expect conditions to worsen from Sunday night.
Whistler 7 Day Forecast Chart & 3-Day Video Forecast
Whistler Live Snow Cams
Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2010
South-west British Columbia Weather Forecast.
Issued Sunday 14 February 2010. By Aaron Cook.
Summary
The weather is about to get a whole lot better towards the weekend. A bit more rain on Tuesday and then light winds and mostly clear skies for the rest of the week.
Synoptic Outlook
A low approaches the B.C coast Monday, bringing a front and some rain to Vancouver early Tuesday. A ridge of high pressure then develops which will ensure light winds and bring mostly fine weather from Wednesday to Friday.
Monday 15 February
Monday will begin cool and crisp in Vancouver before the freezing level rises to about 1500m in the afternoon in a southerly flow ahead of a cold front. Cloud will also increase and a few drops of rain are possible in the evening, falling as snow flurries above 1200m. Conditions will deteriorate overnight and southerlies could be strong at times.
Tuesday 16 February
Rain and snow continue into the afternoon, with freezing levels dropping from 1500m to about 1000m over the day as a cold front sweeps through. Whistler should see about 10 to 15 cm and Cypress could see a similar amount up top, with a mix of rain and snow below 1100m. Southerlies will tend north-west as the front passes. Conditions clear in the afternoon as pressures rise and winds swing around to the north.
Wednesday 17 February
Cool and crisp early. Mostly fine with a few clouds as the freezing level rises to about 1500m
Thursday 18 February
Fine and sunny with north-easterlies around 10 km/h and freezing level around 1500m
Friday 19 February
Fine and sunny with north-easterlies around 10 km/h and freezing level around 1500m
Extended Outlook
The ridge of high pressure should persist for another day or two before it breaks down and allows more weather in late on Sunday or Monday.
Whistler 7 Day Forecast Chart & 3-Day Video Forecast
Whistler Live Snow Cams
Friday 12 February to Tuesday 16 February 2010
South-west British Columbia Weather Forecast.
Issued Friday 12 February 2010 by: Aaron Cook
Summary
The Winter Olympics in Vancouver look likely to get off to a wet start with plenty of rain and snow due in the first week. Freezing levels fluctuate around 1100m during the period, so we should see snow down to about 800m, but things could be a bit slushy any lower than that. Those at sea level should see rain each day till Tuesday.
Synoptic Outlook
Over the next few days western B.C is caught between a deep low pressure system centred a few hundred miles off-shore and a high pressure system over central Canada. These two features conspire to drag a moist, fairly warm, southerly air-stream over Vancouver that will generate plenty of weather.
Friday 12 February
Rain and snow will get underway Thursday and continue through Friday as the low pressure system continues to churn away in the Pacific, sending waves of warm and cold fronts crashing onto the coast. Snow level should be around 800m so expect a good 10 cm of snow if you’re above and a slushy mess if you’re below. Southerly winds won’t be too strong, but could be a bit gusty about the peaks.
Saturday 13 February
A similar story to Friday. 10 cm of snow at Whistler but the southerly winds mean the 540 line heads a few hundred kilometres north and the snow level lifts to about 1100m, so it could be a mixed bag on Cypress. Southerlies will be the strongest of the period today, about 35 to 50 km/h around the peaks.
Sunday 14 February
The low pressure system by this stage has eased south and the cold air circulating around this beast finally makes it onto land. The snow level drops back down during the day to a respectable 800m and Sunday looks like the biggest dump of snow during the period, with perhaps 20cm at Whistler. Southerlies winds about 15 km/h, stronger around the peaks.
Monday 15 February
The synoptic situation is still the same, with a low in the northeast Pacific spinning away and bringing southerly winds. There may be a brief let up in the weather Monday morning before rain and snow return during the evening, leaving perhaps another 10cm on Whistler. Freezing levels are on the rise during the day so it’s difficult to call Cypress – they should see snow above 1200m.
Tuesday 16 February
More of the same. Southerlies and about 10cm of snow above 1000m.
Extended Outlook
Models currently have things fining up by Thursday the 18th, but this far out it’s hard to be specific. Check back on Monday the 15th for another forecast update.
