According to the American models and the GEM regional, precipitation was expected to occur in the evening of the 17th. Around 1930 UTC the Strathmore, AB radar displayed convective precipitation brewing up southwest of Banff, AB and north of Lake Louise. As the system continued to grow larger, Juris, Melissa, Lucia, and I (Ida) rushed over to KES at 2130 UTC to prepare for this surprise event.
Upon arrival at KES, precipitation had not begun, though heavy cloud cover can be seen over Fortress Mountain. Our team quickly came up with a plan for Melissa and Lucia to do a car sonde at Fortress Mountain while Juris and I stayed behind at the KES site to take weather observations.
At KES, light drizzle began at 2210 UTC. Melissa and Lucia arrived at Fortress Mountain at 2213 UTC with rain already occurring at the base. At 2229 UTC, Melissa and Lucia drove through mixed precipitation where conditions remained the same up to the top of Fortress. At 2300 UTC, the mixed precipitation changed to snowfall though very few photos were taken as temperatures remained above 0˙C.
At 2350 UTC, blue skies appeared over KES and the radar no longer had precipitation coming our way. Our team decided to head back to the duplex to re-energize for the expected evening storm.
As the evening progressed, another system began to form. Juris and Lucia began the first shift at 0426 UTC. During the shift of our first team, precipitation began at 0510 UTC where rain and mixed precipitation was experienced. Two weather balloons were released (0600 UTC and 0900 UTC) though winds were missing for both.
Our second team (Melissa and I) arrived on site at around 0830 UTC to relieve our exhausted first team. During the shift of the second team, very light snow occurred throughout the night. Photos were difficult to capture as temperatures remained above 0˙C although aggregates and dendrites were seen. At 1050 UTC, photos were finally taken although problems with the flash arose. New batteries were placed into the flash however a few photos came out black as the flash (at times) continued to not respond. One weather balloon was released for 1200 UTC with… wait for it… WIND!! It is unclear how or why we achieved wind during this release as the same procedure was followed. Further investigation is needed on this issue.
At 1225 UTC, precipitation was no longer occurring at KES and the radar appeared clear of any system coming our way. Melissa and I (sleepily) packed and locked up the site and headed home to our beds. On the drive home, we enjoyed the beautiful eerie scenery leftover from the event. The view made the overnight shift worth the loss of sleep!
However, at 1500 UTC, Juris and Lucia rushed back to KES as another round of precipitation headed our way. Light snowfall was experienced though photos could not be taken as temperatures were above 0˙C. Large snowflakes and dendrites were noted. Precipitation ended at 1600 UTC.
Can you guess what happened next? Yes, another system headed our way again at around 2010 UTC! Juris and I arrived on site at 2045 UTC. We quickly set up a weather balloon launch for 2100 UTC. Unfortunately for this balloon launch, we did not receive wind. Snowfall began at around 2100 UTC with temperatures well above 0˙C (around 8˙C). Not long after, the sun came back out and the radar showed the system dissipating and moving northeast of KES.
For the most part, these events were undetected by the American models and the GEM regional however I am proud of the organization of the team and the way everyone jumped into action once we saw precipitation coming our way!
Field site participants – Juris, Melissa, Lucia, and Ida
Instruments working – MRR, Parsivel, Geonor, weather station, sounding system
- Ida Hung
Upon arrival at KES, precipitation had not begun, though heavy cloud cover can be seen over Fortress Mountain. Our team quickly came up with a plan for Melissa and Lucia to do a car sonde at Fortress Mountain while Juris and I stayed behind at the KES site to take weather observations.
At KES, light drizzle began at 2210 UTC. Melissa and Lucia arrived at Fortress Mountain at 2213 UTC with rain already occurring at the base. At 2229 UTC, Melissa and Lucia drove through mixed precipitation where conditions remained the same up to the top of Fortress. At 2300 UTC, the mixed precipitation changed to snowfall though very few photos were taken as temperatures remained above 0˙C.
At 2350 UTC, blue skies appeared over KES and the radar no longer had precipitation coming our way. Our team decided to head back to the duplex to re-energize for the expected evening storm.
As the evening progressed, another system began to form. Juris and Lucia began the first shift at 0426 UTC. During the shift of our first team, precipitation began at 0510 UTC where rain and mixed precipitation was experienced. Two weather balloons were released (0600 UTC and 0900 UTC) though winds were missing for both.
Our second team (Melissa and I) arrived on site at around 0830 UTC to relieve our exhausted first team. During the shift of the second team, very light snow occurred throughout the night. Photos were difficult to capture as temperatures remained above 0˙C although aggregates and dendrites were seen. At 1050 UTC, photos were finally taken although problems with the flash arose. New batteries were placed into the flash however a few photos came out black as the flash (at times) continued to not respond. One weather balloon was released for 1200 UTC with… wait for it… WIND!! It is unclear how or why we achieved wind during this release as the same procedure was followed. Further investigation is needed on this issue.
At 1225 UTC, precipitation was no longer occurring at KES and the radar appeared clear of any system coming our way. Melissa and I (sleepily) packed and locked up the site and headed home to our beds. On the drive home, we enjoyed the beautiful eerie scenery leftover from the event. The view made the overnight shift worth the loss of sleep!
However, at 1500 UTC, Juris and Lucia rushed back to KES as another round of precipitation headed our way. Light snowfall was experienced though photos could not be taken as temperatures were above 0˙C. Large snowflakes and dendrites were noted. Precipitation ended at 1600 UTC.
Can you guess what happened next? Yes, another system headed our way again at around 2010 UTC! Juris and I arrived on site at 2045 UTC. We quickly set up a weather balloon launch for 2100 UTC. Unfortunately for this balloon launch, we did not receive wind. Snowfall began at around 2100 UTC with temperatures well above 0˙C (around 8˙C). Not long after, the sun came back out and the radar showed the system dissipating and moving northeast of KES.
For the most part, these events were undetected by the American models and the GEM regional however I am proud of the organization of the team and the way everyone jumped into action once we saw precipitation coming our way!
Field site participants – Juris, Melissa, Lucia, and Ida
Instruments working – MRR, Parsivel, Geonor, weather station, sounding system
- Ida Hung