by Susan E. Carr

Created on: November 14, 2009   Last Updated: December 16, 2009

Vancouver, British Columbia has a relatively mild oceanic temperate climate. This climatology applies to the entire Greater Vancouver area.  Vancouver is one of the "warmest" of Canada's major cities, even though the occasional winter can be colder or wetter. Vancouver (Lower Mainland) "rarely" has unusually large snowfalls or extremely cold temperatures, but can have as many as 20 consecutive days of rain. This is due to the influence of a weather pattern known as the Pineapple Express that brings winter rain storms. Average temperatures in February are a low of 2 degrees Celsius (35 degrees Fahrenheit) and a high of 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit).

Since Vancouver does have a propensity to rain, it is a good idea to bring along boots, umbrellas and rain jackets, as well as gloves and/or hats and caps. It is not common for British Columbians in general to wear "fur" coats or fur clothing items, even in colder areas.

Many of the 2010 Olympic venues will be held at Whistler-Blackcomb. This location is approximately 1 and one half hours from the City of Vancouver. Whistler is a snowy mountainous  area and therefore highly desirable when considering Olympic ski and related events. When dressing for events taking place in Whistler or Cypress Mountain you will dress as if you were going to any other ski resort location. Staying warm and dry in the snow is achieved by proper layering.  The base layers, or those next to your body, should be "moisture-wicking" such as Patagonia's Capilene or natural materials such as Ibex's soft merino wool. Bring a few layers with you so that if they get damp or wet you can change them. Mid layers with high insulation, such as fleece, down or materials such as primaloft are very effective in retaining heat and off-setting heat loss. A long sleeve pullover and a fleece or down jacket with waterproofed lined pants are an excellent combination. A hat is one of the most important pieces of clothing and it should cover the ears. Insulated boots are preferred and especially those with liners that can be removed and taken out to dry if they get damp. It is important to remove damp clothing, otherwise you will quickly become chilled..

HBC (Hudson's Bay Company) is the new Olympic Superstore which is located at 674 Granville Street in the center of downtown Vancouver.  The Hudson's Bay Company is truly "Canadian" and offers many items of  "contemporary" Canadian clothing should you choose to buy in Canada and perhaps take home an Olympic's sourvenir at the same time.  Downtown Vancouver also has large malls and brand name clothing stores that specialize in winter apparel and accessories.

Overall, preparing for your visit to Vancouver will involve attention to rain and winter wear items. By following the above suggestions, especially when it comes to "layering" techniques, you will remain warm and comfortable throughout your stay and definitely enjoy the Olympic venues in comfort.

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