Meteorological preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games:

1. Meteorological preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games: Al Wallace Director Meteorological Service of Canada Pacific and Yukon Region

2. On July 2, 2003, the IOC awarded Canada with the rights to host the 2010 XXI Olympic and X Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver & Whistler

4. QUICK FACTS During the 2010 Games 17,000 media representatives on-site 3 billion international television viewers Olympic Games: February 12 to 28, 2010 17 days of Olympic events 7 Winter Sports/ 15 Disciplines – 15 venues 80 + countries participating; 5,500 athletes and officials Paralympic Games: March 12 to 21, 2010 10 days of Paralympic events 5 Winter Sports – 5 venues 40+ countries participating; 1,350 athletes and officials

5. VENUES - WHISTLER Whistler OlympicPark

6. VENUES - LOWER MAINLAND

7. Federal Government Role:“Together in 2010”

8. Environment Canada and 2010: role • Weather •  serious impact on the Games operations •  safety of participants and spectators • EC is the official provider of weather services to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games • Must meet • public safety requirements and the meteorological needs of other federal departments and agencies, particularly those involved in security and transportation • VANOC’s requirements for venue-specific weather information (data and forecasts) • Partnerships with the province • Monitoring & data sharing • Avalanche forecasts, snow clearing forecasts, flood forecasts • Leaving a Legacy • Infrastructure • Engagement • Knowledge and Skills

10. Olympic Autostation Network (OAN)completed fall 2007 Red Dots – new or upgraded MSC weather observation stations for the 2010 Winter Games Blue Dots – existing stations

11. Mt Washington Mount Washington BC – Dec 2007

12. Anemometers sticking out There’s an autostation Under here somewhere Same Station – 2 months later..

13. Data for 2010: observed weather data • Federal Surface weather observing network in place & operational. • Approximately 35 new or upgraded surface observations • Surface Sensors for Sport • 12 VANOC (6 main, 6 wind/temp only) • 3 webcams • Plus (to be operational this Winter) • Surface Radiometers (2) • Visibility Sensors • Wind Profilers/RASS –Installed at Squamish Airport; • Doppler radar; installation Fall/Winter 08/09 • Profiling Microwave Radiometer: Fall/Winter 08/09 Whistler. • Upgrades to some partner sites (Nav Canada, BC) • Upper Air (Radiosonde program) • Operational for test events 2009 and 2010 Games (Whistler and upstream on Vancouver Island at Comox DND base) • Nowcasting Sensors : (paid by research) • Visibility/ceilometers • POSS Heavy wet snow requires frequent inspection

14. Science for 2010 • GEM/LAM, special high resolution forecast model • Understanding/choosing/siting Complex new sensors in complex terrain • Nowcasting Research Demonstration Project (Snow V10) • High Impact Weather case studies • 2008/09 THORPEX (2009/10 Thorpex – TBD)(THe Observing system Research and Predictability EXperiment) • T-PARC Winter Phase (Jan-March 2009) • Data assimilation • Russian radiosondes • Socioeconomic aspects of Olympic forecasts • Annual Climatology studies

15. Forecaster selection & training • Forecasters and Instructors representing • All five MSC Regions • Aviation and Defense Services. • Canadian Weather Network • NWS - Alaska Region and the NW. • 2 Aspects of training • Classroom • Practicum (Venue Forecasting experience) Participants at the Whistler Lab August ‘08

16. Whistler (2 offices) WhistlerAlpine • Whistler Sliding Center • Callaghan Valley (2 offices) • Nordic & Ski jump Weather Forecast Services for the Games Cypress Vancouver (PSPC) support unit + briefing office at VANOC + contingency office

17. Forecast Practicum Jan-March 2009 2-3 week rotations on site at the venues Games-time PSPC support unit • Forecast production • Forecast Verification • Area familiarization • Client familiarization • Journal keeping and reporting • Training on Technology as required (At Vancouver Storm Prediction Centre) Forecasters at Cypress Mtn

18. Service Improvement Project • Basic 2010 page available on Weatheroffice.gc.ca • Webcast for mediavalue-added weather information for EMO’s and the media. • Innovation - explore and implement new web-based functionality on 2010 page. • Analyze and use client feedback from 2010 page to improve service.

19. Our last FY before the Games Keeping us busy this winter • Whistler weather radar – install & calibrate • Maintain OAN – a challenge during winter season • Forecasting • final training of forecasters completed • forecast production infrastructure in place (IFW) • live onsite forecasting for venue test events this winter • ISO Certification • Test of contingency plans • Service improvements • Support to Research Demonstration Project

20. Ensure data up, flowing properly & provide on-site forecasting for outside venue test events • 2009 • January.Nordic Combined World Cup Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Ski Jumping World Cup • February. Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup Freestyle World Cup Snowboard World Cup Luge World Cup • March Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon World Cup Final Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals Biathlon World Cup

21. Legacy • Improve predictive capability through science & technology • Forecast innovations that feed back into and advance the national prediction program: • Improve the understanding of Alpine weather, local high impact scenarios, use and interpretation of high and very high resolution models, Nowcasting, data management • Better understanding of physical processes particularly related to precipitation and wind; better dispersion modeling • Infrastructure upgrades: • Higher density observing network and other sensors: depends on long term partners for resources;