We’re on track for a record for the warmest January in Vancouver history and the mild weather — which caused headaches for Olympic organizers at Cypress Mountain — is set to last through the Games.
“It’s here and it’s sticking around,” said David Jones, a meteorologist for Environment Canada.
Residents and Olympic visitors don’t need to take Jones’ word for it. On Thursday, Environment Canada launched a 2010 Games weather website that uses the latest in meteorology technology to provide up-to-the-minute reports and forecasts.
The site features live images of 2010 venue sites, historical weather trends and a street-level forecast, thanks to the installation of more than 60 weather stations around the region.
“As the clock ticks down toward the Olympics, I imagine organizers are thinking about the white stuff,” said federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice.
“(VANOC) will make decisions based on the weather forecast Environment Canada provides.
We need to provide accurate and up-to-the-minute information.”
The government has also installed a Doppler radar, wind profiler and a network of automated weather stations to provide information VANOC needs to make decisions about venues.
“Winter weather in B.C. can change on a dime with some pretty severe weather impacts,” said Dennis Dudley, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. “(This website) goes well beyond ‘cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of flurries.’”
