For the past week, the giant helicopter and a convoy of dump trucks have been shuttling tons of snow from higher elevations in a frenzied effort to salvage two Olympic events from the grip of El Nino.
The persistent warm weather pattern, which draws warm, humid air from the Pacific Ocean, has prematurely coaxed daffodils into bloom, produced veils of pink and purple on confused ornamental trees throughout the city and on Saturday brought families to sun themselves on the scenic waterfront concourses. But in the mountains - specifically on Cypress Mountain, where snowboarders and freestyle skiers will soon be competing for Olympic gold - blue skies and balmy temperatures have produced nothing but anxiety.
January temperatures were the warmest on record and the trend is continuing this month, says Environment Canada meteorologist Matt McDonald, one of 30 forecasters working the Winter Games.
This year, the average temperature in January was 44.9 degrees, besting the previous warm record of 43.3 in 2006 and well above the historic average of 37.9 degrees, according to Environment Canada weather data.
McDonald says the mild temperatures are expected to continue, and rain - not snow - is expected for much of the week.
"It's not looking so great for the day of opening ceremonies (Friday)," McDonald says.
Mercifully, weather won't be a factor for the indoor opening ceremony, but it has sparked a "huge" effort on Cypress Mountain, says Tim Gayda, vice president of sport for the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee.
The centerpiece of that effort is the unusual snow-lift operation involving Erickson affiliate Canadian Air-Crane.
Starting last Wednesday, the helicopter's giant bucket, with a capacity between 13,000 and 15,000 pounds, has dumped an average of 780 tons a day into the Cypress Mountain bowl, says Dennis Hubbard, a company spokesman.
Hubbard says the helicopter has been shuttling snow from nearby Mount Strachan, where a backhoe has been digging and loading buckets for the short flight to Cypress Mountain.
A team of three pilots, two project managers and three mechanics is keeping the helicopter - nicknamed the giant Swiss Army knife because of its many adaptations - in the air.
But poor weather also has dogged the operation.
Heavy fog suspended some flights Saturday and Sunday, says John Smith, Canadian Air-Crane marketing manager.
"We probably have a couple more days to go," Smith says. "We've done a lot of things, but this is a first."
Smith says the courses are taking shape nicely. But mild temperatures likely will be a factor in maintaining the courses.
"This is a huge effort," Gayda says, declining to disclose the cost of the snow-moving operation. "We've really thrown everything at it."
Despite the problems, which also have forced the cancellation of some training at Cypress, Gayda says there are no plans to move the events. "I am 100% confident that the events will take place and we'll have enough snow to get the job done."
Hannah Teter, the 2006 women's halfpipe gold medalist for the USA and a top contender to win in Vancouver, says, along with the quality of the snow used in the halfpipe, the weather can play a big factor in how a pipe rides.
"It is a delicate balance for the halfpipe," she says.
"It really depends on the air temperature and the humidity. If it's really warm and humid, that makes for a sloppy pipe, and that will really affect everybody. But we go ... all over the world, and sometimes the pipes aren't halfway decent. You've just got to buck up and try to ride it the best you can."
Sarah Lewis, secretary general of the International Ski Federation, says she is impressed with the work at Cypress. She also says conditions, and the cutback in training, are "the same for everybody" when the competition begins this weekend.
"We are in the hands of the weather, and it's all about dealing with it. The work goes on," Lewis says.
"Hopefully, winter will come back," Gayda says. "It only takes a 24-hour period to blanket the mountain." />
