Weather Predictions

Wasn't so many years ago that when an Arctic outflow (east wind) hit the Bella Coola Valley, it was mostly a surprise, other than the 12 hours or so preceeding it when you could recognize the signs of something big about to happen.  Now for the most part Environment Canada seems to nail the predictions pretty close. Few of them are surprises, just the extremes in temperature are sometimes colder or warmer than they predict.

Grey Day Looking West

This event arrived right about on schedule today.  A period of grey with light snow for the morning, then clearing and wind shifting from westerly to outflow by dinner time, accompanied by a temperature drop.  So far this evening it's only dropped to -3  or -4 C, but Environment Canada is still suggesting much colder later in the weekend.  Check out the winds at Cathedral Point (52°11'17.05"N 127°28'15.48"W- about half way down Burke Channel near Kwatna Inlet) weather station this afternoon:

Very impressive outflow winds gusting to 105 km/h and sustained 80 km/h.  That's what happens when you live in a funnel of air between the coast and the interior of BC. Grizzly