Whilst the residents of the UK have been experiencing a rather chilly winter, on the other side of the Atlantic the residents of Vancouver have been hanging their heads in dismay as the snow failed to arrive. An unusually mild winter saw the Winter Olympic organisers closing the Cypress Mountain resort to preserve what snow had fallen. But as the opening ceremony approached things showed no signs of improving and the organisers had to resort to desperate measures.

So far 1000 bales of straw have been brought in to bulk up the bare slopes, with snow trucked in from higher, colder elevations laid on top. Nearly 200 lorry loads of snow have been brought in and the fire and rescue helicopters have been pressed into service airlifting pallets of snow. The real thing did eventually arrive with a day of snow showers last week.

Vancouver experienced its mildest January on record at 4.6C above normal, and so far February is 3.4 C above normal too. What must be even more galling for the organisers is just a short hop south the East coast of America is experiencing its snowiest winter on record. With New York and Washington being hit by ”whiteouts”.

With fog causing cancellations and delays at the higher mountain resort of Whistler this Olympics seem set to be troubled by the weather, and the winter ski resorts weather seems more and more aligned to that experienced this winter in the UK. Brize Norton for the next winter Olympics anyone

Compiled by  Goldie Dawn

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