Current & future challenges in diagnosing/forecasting mountain waves over eastern Canada

Considering the extensive coverage and high frequency of mountain waves over Eastern Canada, operational aviation/public forecasters are facing new challenges: diagnosing and forecasting mountain wave activity as well as their associated turbulence and/or downslope windstorms. The diagnosis part constitutes the first art they will have to master before attempting short/medium range forecasting. This presentation highlights some basic tools/procedures suggested to efficiently diagnose the different types of mountain waves as well as the occurrence/intensity of their most probable impacts. The difficulties associated with this high impact weather phenomenon as well as the scientific gaps that need to be filled in order to develop better diagnosis and forecasting skills are discussed.