Weather Systems

Bear Valley Mountain maintains several different weather monitoring systems. 

• Snowfall
• Precipitation
• Air Temperature
• Relative Humidity
• Wind Speed and Wind Direction

The data provided by these monitoring systems is an integral part of the decision process used in avalanche control on the mountain and maintaining a safe environment for our guests on the mountain.  These systems also provide a variety of vital information to various internal departments and the public.

Snowfall
Snowfall is measured at the Snow Survey site located on the west side of Lodge Run between Grizzly and Kodiak top lift shacks.  The snow is measured for total and interval depth using Judd Communications ultrasonic depth sensors.  The interval depth is measured and cleared throughout storm cycles at various times, usually 0700 and 1600, to eliminate measurement loss from settling. 

Precipitation
All precipitation is measured at the Snow Survey site using an RM Young heated tipping bucket rain gauge located at the top of a 20’ high fiberglass tube.  The precipitation gauge is protected from wind effects with an alter type wind shield.  This measures the rain as well as the water content in the snow.

Air temperature and relative humidity
The Snow Survey site also provides air temperature and relative humidity measurements using an RM Young high accuracy humidity and temperature probe enclosed in a multi-plate radiation shield.

Wind speed and direction
Wind speed and direction are measured at five locations around the resort.  

1. Koala top is the location of the wind data used in general avalanche control forecasting and the main weather web page.  It is collected via an RM Young wind monitor located at the top of Koala chair.  That information is displayed in the patrol shack at koala top in real time and then analyzed and stored in a Campbell Scientific CR-510 datalogger.
2. Ridge top on Bear chair.  This sensor is an RM Young wind monitor located on the top of the chair tower.  Information from Bear chair is then processed and displayed in real time in the Bear Top patrol shack. Grizzly chair wind information is monitored using an RM Young wind monitor located on tower 11.  Real time information is displayed in the Grizzly top lift shack.
3. The Polar Express chair has two wind monitoring sites located on the chair.  One is at the Grouse cutover on tower 10 and the other at the top of the chair on tower 14.  These sensors send information directly to the chairlift operators panel.