The first two in a series of pacific storms have passed. A third storm is now on our doorstep and is set to bring even more rain through the day today. Yesterdays storm brought 60mm of rain at the weather station in creekside. Freezing levels yesterday fluctuated between 1900m and 2300m yesterday. Winds up on the mountain were very high with the passage of a cold front at around noon yesterday a couple 170 km/ph gusts recorded. Another rainfall warning has been issued this morning. A fourth system will approach the coast Thursday afternoon bringing with it possibly some lower freezing levels, but don't count on it as it's also associated with very warm air at treeline, cooler air aloft at the 700mb height may help lower the freezing level tonight. 20mm in the rain gauge this morning already.
3:15 AM PST Wednesday 10 December 2014
Rainfall warning in effect for:
Whistler
Another intense Pacific storm will slam the South Coast today. Heavy rain started early this morning and will continue until this afternoon. Total rainfall amounts today will range from 40 to 70 mm. The rain will ease later this afternoon once the system moves away into the Interior.
Freezing level vs snowline
The freezing level, or 0°C (zero-degree) isotherm, represents the altitude in which the temperature is at 0°C (the freezing point of water) in a free atmosphere (i.e. allowing reflection of the sun by snow, etc.). Any given measure is valid for only a short period of time, often less than a day.
Above the freezing altitude, the temperature of the air is below freezing. Below it, the temperature is above freezing. The profile of this frontier, and its variations, are studied in meteorology, and are used for a variety of forecasts and predictions. Whilst not given on general weather forecasts, it is used on bulletins giving forecasts for mountainous areas.
Rain or Snow?dependent upon temperature
Most precipitation that reaches the ground actually begins as snow high in the atmosphere. These snow flakes develop somewhere above the freezing level where the air temperature is less than 0 C, and begin to fall toward the earth as snow. If ground temperature is above 0 C, the freezing level must be located somewhere above the ground. The falling snow passes through the freezing level into the warmer air. Generally the snowline can be up to 500-1000ft below the freezing level depending on the ground temperature.
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| A 965mb low approaches this morning |
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| The coastal radar is lit up like a Christmas tree this morning |
3:15 AM PST Wednesday 10 December 2014
Rainfall warning in effect for:
Whistler
Another intense Pacific storm will slam the South Coast today. Heavy rain started early this morning and will continue until this afternoon. Total rainfall amounts today will range from 40 to 70 mm. The rain will ease later this afternoon once the system moves away into the Interior.
Forecast
| Today - mild. | ||
| Rain at times heavy. Amount 40 to 60 mm. FL: 1800m to 2200m | High: 7 °C |  |
| Tonight | ||
| Rain ending near midnight then cloudy. Amount 10 to 15 mm. FL: Lowering to 1800m | Low: 4 °C |  |
| Thursday | ||
| Cloudy. Periods of rain beginning in the afternoon. Amount 30 mm FL: 1800m lowering in evening to 1500m | High: 4 °C | |
| Friday | ||
| Cloudy. clearing in afternoon FL: lowering to 1500m in morning then 1000m | Low: 1 °C High: 3 °C |  |
| Saturday | ||
| A mix of sun and cloud. FL: 1000m | Low: -5 °C High: -1 °C |  |
| Sunday | ||
| Sunny. FL 1500m | Low: -5 °C High: 0 °C |  |
| Monday | ||
| Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries or rain showers. | Low: -2 °C High: 2 °C |  |
| Tuesday | ||
| Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries or rain showers. | Low: -1 °C High: 3 °C | |
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| Passage of the cold front yesterday |
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| A well defined pacific low, yesterday at 3 pm |
The freezing level, or 0°C (zero-degree) isotherm, represents the altitude in which the temperature is at 0°C (the freezing point of water) in a free atmosphere (i.e. allowing reflection of the sun by snow, etc.). Any given measure is valid for only a short period of time, often less than a day.
Above the freezing altitude, the temperature of the air is below freezing. Below it, the temperature is above freezing. The profile of this frontier, and its variations, are studied in meteorology, and are used for a variety of forecasts and predictions. Whilst not given on general weather forecasts, it is used on bulletins giving forecasts for mountainous areas.
Rain or Snow?dependent upon temperature
Most precipitation that reaches the ground actually begins as snow high in the atmosphere. These snow flakes develop somewhere above the freezing level where the air temperature is less than 0 C, and begin to fall toward the earth as snow. If ground temperature is above 0 C, the freezing level must be located somewhere above the ground. The falling snow passes through the freezing level into the warmer air. Generally the snowline can be up to 500-1000ft below the freezing level depending on the ground temperature.
