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Snow
Jan 23, 2010 12:22:17 GMT -8
Post by Kahloke on Jan 23, 2010 12:22:17 GMT -8
Hey Markus, can you send that snow our way? We could really use some on the mountains here Yes, indeed you can. The snow, or lack-thereof-even made KOMO news today: Vancouver Olympics are coming - but where's the snow? By KOMO Staff and News Services VANCOUVER, B.C. - Organizers of next month's 2010 Winter Olympics in unseasonably balmy Vancouver have passed beyond the nervous stage - now they’re getting desperate.
The reason: There isn't enough snow on Cypress Mountain, one of the featured venues of the games, where very popular downhill-skiing and snowboarding events are supposed to take place.
And weather forecasts call for little or no snow before the Olympics kick off on Feb. 12.
So game organizers are trucking in tons of fresh snow from higher elevations - and hoping it doesn't melt.
They're also substituting straw to reduce the amount of snow needed as a foundation for a slalom course. And a 22-foot diameter pipe is being used instead of snow as a base for snowboard freestyle events.
The city of Vancouver, like Seattle, is experiencing a unusually mild January - perhaps the warmest on record.
Crocuses and some ornamental fruit trees are already blooming. Daffodils and tulips have sprouted, and daily temperatures routinely peak well above 50 degrees.
Temperatures on Cypress Mountain itself are hovering above 45 degrees and expected to remain there for the foreseeable future, according to forecasters.
That - along with the potential for rain - bodes ill for natural snow or the man-made variety.
Meteorologists are blaming the lack of snow on this year's El Nino weather pattern, which typically means warmer temperatures, overall drier conditions and less snow in the mountains in this part of the world.
"We are amazingly above-normal," said Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Washington. "I can see in my own garden, the bulbs are pushing up."
But Olympics organizers say they have the will and the technology to create enough snow for the Cypress Mountain events.
So far, they have shut down the mountain to recreational skiers in order to preserve what little snow is left. And they have managed to store some snow locally,
But that's not enough - so now they're switching to Plan B, which calls for literally moving tons of fresh snow by truck and helicopter from higher elevations.
It's a monumental undertaking, but Olympics officials are projecting confidence that everything will work out.
Cathy Priestner Allinger, Vancouver's executive vice president for sport and games operations, says: "Our team at Cypress Mountain is working around the clock ... and we’re confident that these efforts will pay off.
And at Whistler Mountain - 100 miles farther north and higher in elevation - there is plenty of snow for the events scheduled to take place there.www.komonews.com/news/local/82512937.html
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D'Elete BC in NJ
Voyager
Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
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Snow
Feb 11, 2010 7:59:18 GMT -8
Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Feb 11, 2010 7:59:18 GMT -8
Well, if USPS and Canada Post would let me, I would be more than happy to unload a couple of feet of snow on the local Vancouver ski slopes. NE, you would be welcome to as much as you want, too! Philly, and much of the eastern seaboard, is experiencing the snowiest season on record, with 70 plus inches so far, and we are expecting another small snowfall toward the beginning of next week. Uggghh...I think it may be time to resurrect the "Reasons to consider riding the bus..." thread...oh, wait, they're not running either...
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Snow
Feb 11, 2010 13:01:04 GMT -8
Post by Northern Exploration on Feb 11, 2010 13:01:04 GMT -8
Well, if USPS and Canada Post would let me, I would be more than happy to unload a couple of feet of snow on the local Vancouver ski slopes. NE, you would be welcome to as much as you want, too! Philly, and much of the eastern seaboard, is experiencing the snowiest season on record, with 70 plus inches so far, and we are expecting another small snowfall toward the beginning of next week. Uggghh...I think it may be time to resurrect the "Reasons to consider riding the bus..." thread...oh, wait, they're not running either... While Toronto is having one of the driest winters yet on record, by the time Canada Post delivered the snow you could just use it to fill up the municipal outdoor pools.
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Snow
Feb 12, 2010 0:40:35 GMT -8
Post by Scott on Feb 12, 2010 0:40:35 GMT -8
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Snow
Mar 5, 2010 21:12:28 GMT -8
Post by WettCoast on Mar 5, 2010 21:12:28 GMT -8
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Snow
Mar 5, 2010 22:43:09 GMT -8
Post by Balfour on Mar 5, 2010 22:43:09 GMT -8
This has been a disappointing season for those of us close to the coast. I work part time in the ski industry and I ski a lot on top of that. This year I did a lot of skiing in November and December and into mid-January (until I injured my ankle at Big White) however since then the only time I have been on the slopes has been to teach on Grouse once a week. However, I did manage to skip work on Wednesday to get up to Whistler and the conditions there are nice. It's not so much the snow's not falling, the real problem is that the freezing level is a bit too high so all of the storms that normally bring lots of snow to the North Shore Mountains has all been falling as rain. The higher mountains in the interior such as Big White and Silver Star are doing great this year. We get bad snow seasons every few years here and unfortunately it had to happen during the Olympics, but you gotta give a lot of credit to the crews at Cypress. They did a great job to make it all happen. We'll rebound and have another good year next year
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Snow
Mar 6, 2010 7:22:28 GMT -8
Post by Ferryman on Mar 6, 2010 7:22:28 GMT -8
I've actually been quite thankful for the weather we've had this winter. Winter 2008/9 was too much. I can only recall one evening where it snowed this past December, and then it was half gone by the next morning. I tend to work all over Vancouver Island, so I spend a fair amount of my day driving to and from work, and have been dreading the thought of adding snow to the mix. Especially with driving my Prelude, which does OK in the snow but it would probably do alot better with snow tires on. With that said, thank you snow gods for saving me a pile of money this winter.
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Snow
Mar 7, 2010 11:17:15 GMT -8
Post by Northern Exploration on Mar 7, 2010 11:17:15 GMT -8
Unlike the Eastern Seaboard, we have had an extremely dry winter. There has been bare ground for the majority of the winter and pretty mild temperatures. I think unless we get a very wet rainy spring there are going to be problems this summer. North of the city in cottage country there has been more snow but we will see what lake levels are like later. Bitter cold isn't a problem for gardeners if there is snow cover, a mild winter without snow can actually cause more die off, so we will see how the gardens have made out in a month or so.
I allowed the temperature to influence my clothing on Thursday and wore a shirt and light sweater/jacket downtown, not taking into account the wind tunnel effect of the tall buildings. So the wind chill made it rather chilly. Plus I parked one place and intended to walk to between the restaurant and Second City where I was going.
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Snow
Apr 7, 2010 23:00:22 GMT -8
Post by Curtis on Apr 7, 2010 23:00:22 GMT -8
Was just minding my own business on the computer not bothering to see beyond the rain drops on the window when suddenly I see what looks like flakes...then i find there's more than just flakes, there is an inch of snow on the ground and it's falling in big flakes.
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Snow
Nov 19, 2010 15:41:52 GMT -8
Post by Curtis on Nov 19, 2010 15:41:52 GMT -8
La Niña is making her First Attack in South Nanaimo Right Now. I looked out the Window at the Rainy Scene and saw some white fluffy flakes falling from the sky.
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Snow
Nov 19, 2010 16:32:55 GMT -8
Post by lmtengs on Nov 19, 2010 16:32:55 GMT -8
Here in Maple Ridge last night, it seemed like the sky couldn't decide whether to snow or rain. It was like a heavy rain, but not totally slush. Kinda in between.
Today, though, it was full-out snowing during my lunch-break. The snow didn't stick to the ground, but it was falling in nice big flakes.
I guess tomorrow my drive up to Courtenay will be a little slower than usual. The forecast calls for a 60% percent chance of snow.
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Snow
Nov 22, 2010 12:38:23 GMT -8
Post by Kahloke on Nov 22, 2010 12:38:23 GMT -8
Well, the snow has finally made it into the Puget Sound region. It was snowing yesterday down in Tacoma and Gig Harbor. Most of it was not sticking, though. Today, it's a different story - lots of the white stuff and it's sticking. We're not expecting major amounts, but still, I'll be heading home early this afternoon on the 15:00 ferry. I just hope my bus (Kitsap Transit #33) will still be on its regular route when I get over there. Its snow route skips downtown Poulsbo and my neighbourhood, which means I'd be hoofing it from the Christ Memorial Church Park and Ride.
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Snow
Nov 22, 2010 18:02:40 GMT -8
Post by Kahloke on Nov 22, 2010 18:02:40 GMT -8
An update on the turn my life has taken. I'm currently sitting, or rather, standing on a very jammed bus on Hwy 305 on Bainbridge Island. It's taken us an hour and 40 minutes to traverse an incredible distance of 2 miles. Hey, only 9 more miles to go. At this rate, I should be home by Christmas. On the upside, I took some snowy ferry pictures with my iPhone this afternoon, including some of Eagle Harbor with Steilacoom II still in the yard - that's for Ferrynut . I'll post them if I ever get home tonight
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Snow
Nov 24, 2010 8:17:36 GMT -8
Post by Mike C on Nov 24, 2010 8:17:36 GMT -8
Right now there's about 2-3" of snow on the ground here in Delta/Surrey, most of it is frozen though due to the incredibly cold temperatures. Yesterday it hit about -20 with the windchill, so my commute home from school last night at 9:30 pm was a very cold one. SkyTrain has been ridiculous; problem trains and frozen switches left right and center, hopefully conditions will improve today...
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Snow
Nov 24, 2010 9:15:20 GMT -8
Post by fargowolf on Nov 24, 2010 9:15:20 GMT -8
*looks out window* There's a skiff of snow here, but more of it higher up on the hills surrounding Kamloops. It's on the cold side though. -15, with a windchill of -22 (4F with a windchill of -8F for those of you south of the border)
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Snow
Nov 24, 2010 9:55:57 GMT -8
Post by Kahloke on Nov 24, 2010 9:55:57 GMT -8
Right now there's about 2-3" of snow on the ground here in Delta/Surrey, most of it is frozen though due to the incredibly cold temperatures. Yesterday it hit about -20 with the windchill, so my commute home from school last night at 9:30 pm was a very cold one. SkyTrain has been ridiculous; problem trains and frozen switches left right and center, hopefully conditions will improve today... That's cold! We have about 3 inches of snow in Poulsbo. I finally got home Monday night at 21:30. It took the bus 5 hours to travel 11 miles from Bainbridge to Poulsbo. That was insane. And, naturally, there was no power when I arrived home. There still isn't any power in Poulsbo or most of Kitsap County, for that matter. I'm currrently in Edmonds at my parents house sitting it out until Puget Sound Energy restores power to Poulsbo. Yesterday was a gorgeous day, though, even if it was cold. I snapped some good snow pictures of Poulsbo, and later, on the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry. When I finally get home, I'll post pics.
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Snow
Nov 24, 2010 12:43:50 GMT -8
Post by Balfour on Nov 24, 2010 12:43:50 GMT -8
We have a few flurries happening here in NV, and with more in the forecast I'm pretty stoked for some epic early season conditions on the mountain ;D ;D ;D
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Snow
Nov 24, 2010 22:06:37 GMT -8
Post by WettCoast on Nov 24, 2010 22:06:37 GMT -8
It has finally started snowing up here in the place that the 'People of the Snow' call home. We have ~2 cm of powder now. By the weekend we might be up to 30 cm of snow (likely of the wet variety). With luck we will be skiing soon.
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Snow
Nov 24, 2010 22:58:20 GMT -8
Post by mrdot on Nov 24, 2010 22:58:20 GMT -8
:)over and out to land of snow, from the lightly dusted snowfall of Tsawwassen, the first mainland port of wacky's navy, where the Dogwood used to fly. looks like we will revert back to our regular wetcoast banana belt tomorrow! mrdot.
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Snow
Nov 25, 2010 1:47:19 GMT -8
Post by SS San Mateo on Nov 25, 2010 1:47:19 GMT -8
That's cold! We have about 3 inches of snow in Poulsbo. I finally got home Monday night at 21:30. It took the bus 5 hours to travel 11 miles from Bainbridge to Poulsbo. That was insane. And, naturally, there was no power when I arrived home. There still isn't any power in Poulsbo or most of Kitsap County, for that matter. I'm currrently in Edmonds at my parents house sitting it out until Puget Sound Energy restores power to Poulsbo. Yesterday was a gorgeous day, though, even if it was cold. I snapped some good snow pictures of Poulsbo, and later, on the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry. When I finally get home, I'll post pics. 5 hours to travel 11 miles?!?!?!? Yegowzas I left work early (1:45 instead of the normal 4:15) on Monday. Got home without any problems (it was cold by the time I got back on the island). The power went out sometime after 7:00 PM on Monday and didn't come back on until after 10:30 PM on Wednesday.
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Snow
Nov 29, 2010 21:26:56 GMT -8
Post by WettCoast on Nov 29, 2010 21:26:56 GMT -8
Sometimes when it snows here it really dumps. We have had 50 cm of new snow since 6:00 AM this morning and it is still coming down hard. This is the view out from the upstairs of my house this evening. That's my driveway at lower right. I will have to blow it out again this evening before calling it a night.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Snow
Nov 29, 2010 21:54:34 GMT -8
Post by Koastal Karl on Nov 29, 2010 21:54:34 GMT -8
ooh nice! Wish it would snow like that here! I love the snow and winter! Looks like you guys might have a White Christmas!
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Snow
Nov 29, 2010 21:59:38 GMT -8
Post by mrdot on Nov 29, 2010 21:59:38 GMT -8
:)over to wettcoast November, looks like new title should read snowy December, I guess there is no need to ask if you have snow yet? mrdot.
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Snow
Dec 13, 2010 19:00:26 GMT -8
Post by WettCoast on Dec 13, 2010 19:00:26 GMT -8
ooh nice! Wish it would snow like that here! I love the snow and winter! Looks like you guys might have a White Christmas! Yes, Christmas here is sure to be white. We have had 75 (2.5 feet) additional cm of snow over the last day and a half. I think I shall go and change my name now!
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Snow
Dec 27, 2010 23:27:25 GMT -8
Post by WettCoast on Dec 27, 2010 23:27:25 GMT -8
Yes we have had a White Christmas here on the inner North Coast. Perhaps we will have a White Easter also. My house this evening after another 40 cm falling in the last 24 hours...
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