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2002 Winter Games

Weather Support for 2002 Olympic Games Dr. Tom Potter SLOC Weather Coordinator and U. of Utah Meteo Dep’t. 2002 Winter Games. 2500 Athletes 78 Events at 10 Venues 1.5 Million Spectators 9000 Accredited Media + 4 K more 26,000 Volunteers + 5000 Staff

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2002 Winter Games

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  1. Weather Support for 2002 Olympic GamesDr. Tom PotterSLOC Weather Coordinatorand U. of Utah Meteo Dep’t

  2. 2002 Winter Games • 2500 Athletes • 78 Events at 10 Venues • 1.5 Million Spectators • 9000 Accredited Media + 4 K more • 26,000 Volunteers + 5000 Staff • Budget $ 1.3 Billion • Games Labeled “Outstanding” by Athletes,Spectators,TV Audience, and even the Media.

  3. Effects on Olympic activities • Sport Competition Delays • Transportation (Ground and Air) • Spectator Safety & Comfort • Medical Emergency Response • Security • Snowmaking & Snow Removal • Engineering & Construction: Seats,tents,flags,displays,… • Environmental Quality & Air Pollution • Ceremonies with weather-critical shows before 50,000+ people in stadium

  4. What the WSP Provided • Forecasts & Warnings : For 5 Outdoor Venues,the Salt Lake Area, and Roads • Official Weather Conditions at Venues • Historical Climate Data: Venues & Cities plus Climate Forecasts from CPC • Consultant advice on applications: snowmaking,engineering & construction, transportation, security, ceremonies,...

  5. Who Did the Job Unique Weather Team from public, private, academic and military sectors - NWS: Area-wide & road corridor fcsts, plus led twice-daily conference calls - KSL : Detailed fcsts for sports venues • U: Sensors, MesoWest, Research, Fcst Tools, Hi-Res Analyses & Fcsts, Wx Aides • Hill AFB: Helicopter Support and TMOS • NCEP, SLOC IS/Comm/Others, USFS Avalanche Center, FSL (FX-Net), UOPSC

  6. Real-time Operations • Weather Operations Center at NWS Office near SLC Airport (24/7) • Weather Forecasters at Outdoor Venues ( 0400 to 1800 on event days) • Volunteer Weather Aides at Outdoor Venues: Official Obs (0600 to 1800) • High-res MM5 and ADAS Runs, MesoWest DataBase at U of U (24/7) • Aviation Weather from Hill AFB (24/7) • Coordinator/Aides at SLOC/MOC(04-1900)

  7. Tool Kit * Modern Hardware and Software with Hi-Res Analyses and Forecasts * Superb MesoWest Database * New Understanding of Local Mountain Snow Processes from IPEX * Forecasters Knew Local Mtn Weather * Each Component of Weather Team brought unique strengths * Twice Daily Conference Calls Aided in Accurate & Well-Coordinated Forecasts

  8. 2600 stations & 70 networks in western US 250+ stations in northern Utah MesoWest surface network www.met.utah.edu/mesowest

  9. MesoWest Olympic obs Park City Alpine GS, Snowboard GS Snowboard Half Pipe Snowbasin Downhill, Combined, Super-G Olympic region sites Utah Olympic Park Bobsled, Luge, Skeleton, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined Deer Valley Alpine Slalom, Aerials, Moguls Location of MM5 MOS sites Soldier Hollow: Cross Country, Biathlon, Nordic Combined

  10. Mesoscale modeling/(MOS)

  11. FX NET • PC-based weather display system from NOAA/FSL • Provides access to NWS/AWIPS information at outdoor venues and Hill AFB • Insures all forecasters on Olympic team have access to the same weather information

  12. Potential Wx Concerns • Forecasts of Precipitation in the Mountains • Forecasts for tiny sports venues at precise fixed times • Heavy Snow • Strong Winds • Too Warm for Snowmaking • Rain on Snow • Low Visibility: Fog or Snow • Lightning • Avalanches • Air Pollution Westwide Avalanche Network D. Judd

  13. Actual Weather • Nearly Perfect for Winter Games : Colder & Drier than Normal, with no big snowstorms, strong wind gusts, or low visibilities • Few Weather Delays/Postponements - Mostly from Winds - Only one postponement from snow - Potential Wind/Lightning effects at all 4 Opening/Closing Ceremonies

  14. Forecast Results • Overall, forecasts were excellent, according to customers. • Superb data sets and wide range of models available to experienced forecasters who coordinated well. • Had high resolution analyses/forecasts. • MM5/MOS forecasts for venues were quite accurate. • Detailed,precise forecasts for Opening/Closing Ceremonies were exceptionally good.

  15. LEGACIES • More Obs, Better D.B., New forecast tools • Better Understanding of Winter Weatherin Complex Terrain thru Research & Experience • Will result in better forecasts in mountain regions well after theOlympics • Model of Multi-Sector Cooperation

  16. Ongoing scientific issues • QPF!!! • When, where, how much • Highway surface modeling/guidance • Snow-surface temperature/structure • AQ during cold pools/inversions

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