Heavy Rain ahead Of Vancouver Olympics

With the 2010 Olympics less than a month away, Vancouver is seeing unseasonable warm weather and has already broken the January rainfall average of 139mm.

Vancouver International Airport saw a record high of 13.4 C on Tuesday, beating the old 1981 record of 12C, and more than double the 6C average.

The warm air and heavy rain are causing problems for some outdoor Olympic Venues, particularly Cypress Mountain, which has now closed to the public two weeks earlier than planned in order to prepare for Olympic events in less than a month when it is due to host the Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard Halfpipe events.

Whistler to the north is receiving more snow, having already accumulated more than 8 metres since opening in November. Current base depths at mid-mountain are more than 2.5 metres (over eight feet).

Olympic officials have stressed that the Vancouver rainfall is not a problem and a scenario that they have planned for for many years. They say the venues will be able to operate next month.

The Olympics begin on February 12th.

www.vancouver2010.com

Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc