Weather Stations (Wed Jan 20, 2021)

Located in a sheltered opening in the forest, 800 meters above Highway 93 South near the Simpson Monument. This weather station measures temperature and snow depths at treeline, and is valid within a 5 km radius of the station. This area receives very localized weather effects, and the station is used to forecast for the Simpson avalanche paths which effect Highway 93 South. Snow depths are measured using an ultrasonic sensor that can result in a +/- 2% error.

Located on an exposed ridge crest 1000 meters above Highway 93 South near the Simpson Monument, a short distance above SIMPSON LOWER. This weather station measures mountain top air temperature, wind speed and direction in the immediate areas around the Simpson avalanche paths which effect Highway 93 South.

Located on the summit of Lookout Mountain, 100 meters above the top station of the Great Divide chairlift at Sunshine Village. This weather station measures mountain top air temperature, wind speed and direction for areas along the Continental Divide near Sunshine Village.

Located in the village at Sunshine Village Ski Resort, this station is sheltered from the wind and measures temperature, snow depth and precipitation amounts for treeline areas along the Continental Divide near Sunshine Village. Snow depths are measured using an ultrasonic sensor that can result in a +/- 2% error. Precipitation is measured using a weighing gauge that collects snow/rain and is considered a more accurate measure for avalanche forecasting.

Located 3 km south of the Stanley Glacier trailhead, 400 meters above Highway 93 South. This station measures temperature and snow depths for areas near the BC/Alberta border at Vermillion Pass. Snow depths are measured using an ultrasonic sensor that can result in a +/- 2% error.

Located on an exposed alpine ridge, 1 km SE of the main summit of Mt. Whymper and 1100 meters above Highway 93 South. This weather station measures mountain top air temperature, wind speed and direction for areas near the BC/Alberta border at Vermillion Pass.

Located in a small forest opening at treeline, 600 meters above the Wapta Lake, just west of the BC/Alberta border on the Trans-Canada Highway. This station provides snow depth and temperature measurements for areas on the Continental Divide near Lake Louise, and is used to forecast avalanches in the adjacent Bosworth avalanche paths. Snow depths are measured using an ultrasonic sensor that can result in a +/- 2% error.

Located on a high summit, 1150 meters above Wapta Lake, just west of the BC/Alberta border on the Trans-Canada Highway. This weather station measures mountain top air temperature, wind speed and direction along the Continental Divide near Lake Louise, and is used to forecast avalanches in the adjacent Bosworth avalanche paths that effect the Trans-Canada Highway.

Located on a high summit above Bow Hut on the Wapta Icefield, this weather station measures high elevation temperature, wind speed and direction for areas along the Continental Divide on the Wapta Icefield.

Located in a meadow on the east side of Highway 93 North, 1.5 km south of the Bow Summit turnoff. This weather station provides temperature, wind, snow depth and precipitation measurements for areas near Bow Summit and the eastern side of the Wapta Icefield.Snow depths are measured using an ultrasonic sensor that can result in a +/- 2% error. Precipitation is measured using a weighing gauge that collects snow/rain and is considered a more accurate measure for avalanche forecasting.

Located on a broad ridge of Mt Fidelity, Round Hill is the western most weather station in the Glacier National Park network. This station measures air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction. Wind speed and direction values from Round Hill are used to monitor the arrival and intensity of incoming storm systems that are tracking eastward. Round Hill is used to forecast wind transported snow in the avalanche start zones of Mt Fidelity, Mt Smart, and Mt Fortitude, high above the Trans-Canada Highway and CP Rail Line.

The Mt Fidelity research station is located at treeline in the west end of the forecast region in the permanently closed area of Mt Fidelity. The Mt Fidelity research station includes a full weather plot where daily manual weather readings are taken and snowpack stability is assessed. Weather telemetry measures air temperature, relative humidity, height of snowpack, new snow (24hr) and new precipitation (mm). Snow profile locations on multiple aspects can be easily reached from the Mt Fidelity research station. Snowfall amounts at Mt Fidelity are representative of conditions in the western part of the forecast region.

Located at treeline on Mt Abbott, directly above the Trans-Canada Highway, this station measures air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and precipitation amounts. Wind speed/direction and precipitation intensity at the Mt Abbott station are important for forecasting the avalanche hazard from several large slide paths in the central area of the forecast region.

Located in the Parks Canada maintenance compound at Rogers Pass, this site includes a weather plot where manual weather readings are taken twice daily and snowpack stability is assessed. Weather telemetry measures air temperature, relative humidity, height of snowpack, new snow (24hr) and new precipitation (mm). Air temperature values at Rogers Pass can be compared with those at MacDonald West Shoulder and Hermit to detect temperature inversions.

Located on an exposed ridge above the summit of Rogers Pass, this station measures air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction. This is the primary wind sensor used to forecast the influence of wind transported snow on Mt MacDonald and Mt Tupper. Temperature inversions can be detected by comparing air temperatures at MacDonald West Shoulder to those at the Rogers Pass weather station, located 600m below.

Located at treeline below the peaks of Mt Sifton and Mt Rogers, this station measures air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and precipitation amounts. Hermit station is useful for determining the amount of precipitation falling in the area of Rogers Pass Summit. Precipitation values at Hermit can be compared to those from Mt Fidelity to understand the east-west distribution of snowfall amounts across the forecast area.

Located in the east end of the forecast region at the top of the “East Gate Mudslide”. This station measures precipitation amounts (summer only), air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and height of snow. Rockfall station is primarily used by highway maintenance operations to forecast spring conditions for the East Gate mudslide.

Located next to the Trans-Canada Highway at the eastern end of the forecast region, this is a low elevation station measuring air temperature, relative humidity and precipitation amounts. This station is used to determine if precipitation is falling as rain or snow at lower elevations. Heather Hill is particularly useful to highway maintenance operations in Glacier National Park.

Located in flat, sparsely treed area with minimal wind effect, this station measures air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed/direction, and snowfall amounts. Coleman is useful for comparing against Big Bend to see the distribution of snowfall amounts in the southern area of the Jasper forecast region.

Located in a sheltered treeline area with minimal wind effect, this station measures air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed/direction, and snowfall amounts. The Big Bend station provides a good indication of accumulated snowfall amounts and is the primary station used to forecast conditions in the Columbia Icefields area.

Located on an exposed ridge top area, this station’s main purpose is to monitor and record temperatures and wind effect in the Parker avalanche paths that effect Highway 93 North, as well as general upper level wind and snow loading patterns in the Columbia Icefields area.

Located at the highway elevation, just west of the Town of Field, this weather station provides valley bottom temperatures and is useful for skiers and climbers planning routes near Field or Emerald Lake.