January 2021 Forecasts and Discussions

[Hound]

Well, WeatherPro nailed the issuing of the SWS today. Let's see if he can go 3 for 3.

[Pumpkin Seed]

How did your area do in late February 2011 or 2018? Those are some recent examples of fairly prolonged cold snaps with multiple snowfalls across the south coast during the back half of winter.

Can't remember 2011 but Feb 2018 was quite exceptional with some snow on the ground for a week or 2. What's annoying this winter is that it started with high expectation as a strong La Nina one but so far it just turns out opposite.

[Hawk]

I will take it even in cm. But I really don't think it will verify. This winter really sucks, especially for us living by the water. So far I have not seen a single flake on the ground yet. All I got just cold rain, cold rain, and more cold rain. Feb is coming, meaning time is running out.

Yup...your elevation of 2ft is def not helping in the snow department...add in coastal proximity and you will often be doing this >

[Forrest Gump]

Well, WeatherPro nailed the issuing of the SWS today. Let's see if he can go 3 for 3.

Snow Weather Statement

[Pumpkin Seed]

Yup...your elevation of 2ft is def not helping in the snow department...add in coastal proximity and you will often be doing this >

Too bad, there is nothing else I can do.

[AbbyJr]

Yup...your elevation of 2ft is def not helping in the snow department...add in coastal proximity and you will often be doing this >

Nothing issued for the valley. I find that a bit surprising given snow is also likely here.

[Wintergirl]

Mmmm no special weather statement for us here in Squamish yet, however we dont really need one for 2 to 5cms LOL! We do have some outflow winds now and the dew point is dropping fast! Squamish and snow and amounts...anyone wanna wager a guess for me for the weekend??? Pretty please

[Typeing3]

Are there significant differences in snow amounts between Westwood Plateau, Heritage Mountain, and Burke Mountain?

For the most part, all three are at least 100m in elevations beside a few pockets here and there. But Westwood Plateau is highest, around 350m.

So the question is:

Once you start getting up to 200m elevation, is there really a significant difference between that and 350m?

There's a pretty big difference once you get above 200m.

There's about three different snow zones on the plateau that you'll generally observe during marginal snow events; the first is from about 100-200m; the second from 200-300m; and the third from 300-370m.

That third zone often scores huge. Case in point...during a pretty spotty regional snowfall in early March 2019, the upper levels of Westwood plateau received upwards of 30-40cm.

I should also add that the highest elevations of como lake hill around Mundy Park (in central coquitlam) often overperform in snowfall relative to their elevation. The hill is generally about 120-180m in elevation but they often receive similar or higher amounts of snowthan elevations between 200-300m on westwood plateau.

[AbbyJr]

There's a pretty big difference once you get above 200m.

There's about three different snow zones on the plateau that you'll generally observe during marginal snow events; the first is from about 100-200m; the second from 200-300m; and the third from 300-370m. That third zone often scores huge. During a pretty spotty regional snowfall in early March 2019, the upper levels of Westwood plateau received upwards of 30-40cm.

So in reality, there are times when there can be 30-40cm on Westwood Plateau and just a minor slush event at the bottom or even just part way down the hill?

I could see this happening in cases where the snow level is 300m. Anything at or above that would be heavy snow and anything below it would be heavy rain. Its the case where it could be green grass and heavy rain at Lafarge Lake and heavy snow on Westwood Plateau.

Would that be a correct understanding?

[Catnip]

There's a pretty big difference once you get above 200m.

There's about three different snow zones on the plateau that you'll generally observe during marginal snow events; the first is from about 100-200m; the second from 200-300m; and the third from 300-370m.

That third zone often scores huge. Case in point...during a pretty spotty regional snowfall in early March 2019, the upper levels of Westwood plateau received upwards of 30-40cm.

I should also add that the highest elevations of como lake hill around Mundy Park (in central coquitlam) often overperform in snowfall relative to their elevation. The hill is generally about 120-180m in elevation but they often receive similar or higher amounts of snowthan elevations between 200-300m on westwood plateau.

Good explanation, thanks.

I've always wondered how this area receives snowfall amounts that are equivalent to the higher levels of the Plateau. Such a weird micro-climate. Maybe the Plateau being right up against/on the mountain has something to do with it, whereas this area is kind of open all around.

[Storm]

18z is a fun run

[Catnip]

So in reality, there are times when there can be 30-40cm on Westwood Plateau and just a minor slush event at the bottom or even just part way down the hill?

I could see this happening in cases where the snow level is 300m. Anything at or above that would be heavy snow and anything below it would be heavy rain. Its the case where it could be green grass and heavy rain at Lafarge Lake and heavy snow on Westwood Plateau.

Would that be a correct understanding?

It does happen where there could be quite a bit of snow up top on the Plateau or in this area but once you drive down to say Lougheed Highway or Coquitlam Centre, there is no evidence of any snowfall. I find that during those types of snowfalls, the temperature here will hover at 0.0 or 0.1. So we are basically right at the cut off between snow and rain. Drop down in any elevation and it turns to rain, or just a rain/snow mix. When we get those cold onshore flow setups, that can be the case.

[Typeing3]

So in reality, there are times when there can be 30-40cm on Westwood Plateau and just a minor slush event at the bottom or even just part way down the hill?

I could see this happening in cases where the snow level is 300m. Anything at or above that would be heavy snow and anything below it would be heavy rain. Its the case where it could be green grass and heavy rain at Lafarge Lake and heavy snow on Westwood Plateau.

Would that be a correct understanding?

Yeah. It's not exactly a common occurrence but it does happen on occasion during most winters.

During the '16-17 winter, settled snow depth on the upper levels of Westwood plateau peaked at around 2.5-3ft or 75-90cm. Piles on lawns or on the side of the roads were around 5-6ft+. Winter '08-09 was even more extreme than that.

[Typeing3]

Good explanation, thanks.

I've always wondered how this area receives snowfall amounts that are equivalent to the higher levels of the Plateau. Such a weird micro-climate. Maybe the Plateau being right up against/on the mountain has something to do with it, whereas this area is kind of open all around.

I think the eastern part of como lake hill is more exposed to outflow than the plateau.

Like you said, the plateau is backed up against the coastal mountains so that extra bit of cooling doesn't occur until you're above 300m, hence the mundy park area (which is around 170m) often can easily outdo neighborhoods on the plateau that are 100m higher in elevation.

The top of the plateau though...that's like a completely different climate zone during prolonged cold snaps or cold onshore flow setups. They had nearly 60cm on the ground during late December 2012 and snowcover persisted through late January.

[AbbyJr]

Yeah. It's not exactly a common occurrence but it does happen on occasion during most winters.

During the '16-17 winter, settled snow depth on the upper levels of Westwood plateau peaked at around 2.5-3ft or 75-90cm. Piles on lawns or on the side of the roads were around 5-6ft+. Winter '08-09 was even more extreme than that.

When I lived in Prince George, I remember a time when it was cold rain and green grass at our place at 608m in elevation.

Once we drove up the hill into the Hart Highland suburbs, it started changing to wet snow and at 740m, it was heavy snow and rapidly accumulating.

I was so young that I thought the rain had changed to snow everywhere. I was pretty dissapointed when we came down the hill and it was still cold rain and green grass at my place.

The Hart Highlands usually gets more snow than the bowl (city centre area) in Prince George, but I don't think its usually a difference between cold rain and heavy snow. Typically, its cold enough for snow at all levels but the higher elevations just get the higher accumulations.

There are cases though, such as the example I gave, where a marginal setup occurs. In those cases, 100m can be the difference between cold rain and heavy snow.

Same thing happens in Kamloops. You can have heavy snow in Aberdeen at 800m+ elevation and rain downtown at 345m. Microclimates.