Ecological Notes:

• Still no Elephant seals hauled out
  
• After the big storm on the 9th, there is a massive increase in the number of Sea Lions
  

This early crocus may find it was a bit too early!

Visitors:

• Recent fuel, grocery, and parcel delivery.
  

Facility Work:

• Lots of ongoing debris removal from the boat ramp and pier area. Important to ensure it’s clear in case of emergencies, and to aid in moving the cart through for deliveries.

• More firewood bucking and splitting to keep gaining on the  stored wood available

• Set up and pumped sea water into the cistern for the desalinator unit

• Assessed, tidied up, and did temporary fixes to storm damaged  buildings

• Transferred all delivered fuel to local drums and tanks, freeing the main tank for the next delivery and moved to the generator building so none has to be transferred during the potential snowfall. Added some to the main house tank, to keep the chill off during the freezing weather to prevent the pipes for freezing.
• Checked and ran new extension cords to the heat tape on the outside pipes from the water tank
• Verified operation of the wail heater in the deslinator building, again to prevent freezing

Noted Vessel Traffic:

• Eco-Tourism vessels, mostly the same 3 rotating through daily, depending on weather conditions

Weather Events:

The storm on the 9th was one of the greatest I’ve seen out here. Westerly winds up to 60 knots combined with low pressure and extremely high tides created the perfect storm. Waves crashing on the western shore were producing spry well over the Helicopter pad and the Student house. It was hitting so hard, the wind was carrying  pieces of wood half way across the island. One 12 foot log hit end-wise on the pier,; and was thrown in the air high enough to clear the rail. Water and debris washed all the way up the ramp to the boat house.

• Tuesday, January 9:
  • Sky: Heavy storm clouds, rain and highwind squals
    
  • Wind: w 45-50kts, gusting to 60 kts
  • Sea:3 meter swells with higher wind chop, breaking high on the west side of the main island
    
  • Temperature Low 5^oC, High 8^oC
• Wednesday, January 10:
  • Sky: Foggy until mid-afternoon, clear and sunny to overcast
  • Wind: wind rotating through the compass, 5-10kts, rising to W 30kts during the night
    
  • Sea:  1m swells and chop
    
  • Temperature Low 5^oC, High 10^oC
• Thursday January 11:
  • Sky: mix of sun and cloud, giving way to overcast and mixed rain/snow mid afternoon
    
  • Wind: averaging  N 25 kts gusting up 45 mid afternoon
    
  • Sea: high waves and swells
    
  • Temperature high of 7, dropping rapidly to freezing late afternoon, expected low of -9 tonight

 

 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?