Meteorological observations collected during the Storms and Precipitation Across the continental Divide Experiment (SPADE), April–June 2019

Abstract. The continental divide along the spine of Canadian Rockies in southwestern Canada is a critical headwater region for hydrological drainages to Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic oceans. Major flooding events are typically attributed heavy precipitation on its eastern side due upslope (easterly) flows. Precipitation can also occur western when moisture originating from Pacific Ocean encounters west-facing slopes Rockies. Often, storms propagating across result significant both sides. Meteorological data over this sparse, with few stations located at high elevations. Given importance all these types events, Storms Across Divide Experiment (SPADE) was initiated enhance our knowledge atmospheric processes leading either divide. This accomplished by installing specialized meteorological instrumentation sides carrying out manual observations during an intensive field campaign 24 April–26 June 2019. On side, there were two sites: (i) Fortress Mountain Powerline (2076 m a.s.l.) (ii) Junction Service, high-elevation valley (1580 a.s.l.). Nipika Resort, (1087 a.s.l.), chosen as site. Various instruments deployed including Doppler light detection ranging (lidars), three vertically pointing micro rain radars, optical disdrometers. main sites nearly identically instrumented, observers site Resort take type microphotographs solid particles. objective gather high-temporal-frequency compare different conditions study that lead catastrophic region. Details sites, used, collection methods discussed. Data publicly accessible Federated Research Repository https://doi.org/10.20383/101.0221 (Thériault et al., 2020). dataset will be used associated documented simultaneously paper provides sample gathered event.