February 17, 2014

    09:30 Hours Sunday February 16, 2014. 31 cm of fresh and many eager powder hounds.

    Looking like a record day, not sure if its been that busy in my 33 years on Blackcomb??

    Great effort by the Whistler/Blackcomb Patrol to get it all open.

    The front that was forecasted for noon was a little late but that was a good thing!!



Weather observations for February 17, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hrs.

2240 meters     -10, Winds were 20-30 KPH from the S
2180 meters       -9, Winds were 35-55 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters       -9, Winds were 20-35 KPH from the S
1835 meters       -8, Winds were 15-40 KPH from the S
1650 meters       -5, 21 cm of new snow, Base 210 cm, 22 cm in 24 hours
1550 meters       -5, 18 cm of new snow, Base 172 cm, 19 cm in 24 hours
  660 meters        0, Valley Temp, 16.6 mm of precip yesterday

Maximum Gusts late yesterday afternoon up to 90 KPH. Avalanche control yesterday produced mostly size 1 avalanches with a few size 2 avalanches. There have been reports of natural avalanches up to size 2.5 in our zone.

For the forecast, although the front yesterday was a little late it still produced 22 centimetres of snow. Unsettled weather can be expected with some snow flurries possible as a moist Westerly flow continues for today. An upper trough will move in this evening bringing more snow to our zone. We will experience two more weak frontal waves Wednesday and Thursday prior to a drier North West flow for Friday into the Sunday. Direr conditions with a chance of some flurries. Guesstimates: 10-15 by Tuesday morning, 15-20 cm by Wednesday morning, 5-8 cm by Thursday morning, 1-3 cm for Friday morning. Tuesday looks like we will see heavy snow in the morning during operating hours. Freezing levels look very good for snow right to the valley. 800 meters to surface range.

    Georgia Straight clear on Sunday morning, that changed by 15:00 hours, snow and strong winds.

Good looking system heading our way Sunday afternoon.



Extratropical Cyclone over the United Kingdom: Earth Observatory

RCMP confirm vehicle caught in an avalanche near Roger's Pass: Global B.C.

Three skiers rescued after avalanche on Needle Peak: Near Hope, B.C.

2 missing Skiers found dead after Colorado avalanche: CNN

Remotely Triggering avalanches at Harvey Pass: CAC Forecasters Blog

One snowmobiler dead after avalanche in Idaho: Frenchman Creek Area

Snow avalanche kills one, another rescued in Gandah: Kashmir

15 People have died in avalanches in the US so far this season: Avalanche.Org

    The Alaskan low is still looking prominent for Wednesday February 19 Th.

    Sucker holes at day break yesterday morning.

    Weather station at 1550 meters, Catskinner Weather plot on Blackcomb.

    Valley weather station on Nesters Road. 660 meters.

   The fronts are expected to continue into Thursday, a change is scheduled for Friday.

    Snowing 2 cm per hour at 695 meters, 16:00 hours Sunday February 16, 2014.