March 12, 2014

    Large avalanche hits Hwy 21 in Idaho, story below.                                                      File Photo

    Yesterday morning, blue sky and a mix of good snow, avalanche debris and wind affected snow.

    The day progressively became cloudier.

    Just before the end of the day there were some stratus nimbus clouds forming.

    At sunset it was already beginning to clear up.

    Clouds made for an ever changing picture yesterday.




Weather observations for March 12, 2014, taken at 06:00 hrs this am.

2240 meters     -6, Winds were 20-35 KPH from the S
2180 meters     -4, Winds were 25-35 KPH from the S
1860 meters     -1, Winds were 20-30 KPH from the ESE
1835 meters     -1, Winds were 15-30 KPH from the S
1650 meters     -4, No new snow, Base 240 cm
1550 meters     -3, No new snow, Base 192 cm
  660 meters     -4, Valley Temperature. Max Temp yesterday +8.8

For the forecast, sunny skies this morning prior to unsettled conditions this afternoon as a weak front slides down the coast bringing clouds to our area this afternoon. As of now it looks like it may clear up early tomorrow morning with sunny periods in the morning then clouds will move in for Thursday afternoon into the weekend. Light snow will begin to fall Thursday night into Monday morning as a frontal band approaches our zone. Several weak frontal bands will move through this weekend. As usual there is disagreement in the models for the weekend. Guesstimates: 1-3 cm by Friday morning, 4-6 cm by Saturday morning, 5-8 cm by Sunday morning, 5-8 cm by Monday morning. These amounts will be adjusted as we get closer to the weekend and the models hopefully will allign.

    Low in the Gulf of Alaska will send weak fronts into our area over the weekend.

    Front sliding down the coast, clouds later today, precip possible for tomorrow.

    Satellite image from yesterday at noon.


Avalanche experts to survey massive slide that has buried a section of Hwy 21 near Lowman: Idaho

As winter wears on, "Avalanche Alley" comes alive: Montana

Touring in Alaska, Pinnacle Peak: Avalanche Encounter

Many avalanche deaths in Kashmir: India

Another avalanche fatality from incident near Flint Creek Mountains: Montana

Snowmobiler dies in an avalanche near Kimberley: Kootney Glacier National Park

Four soldiers die in an avalanche in North Pakistan: 26 troops involved

    Looks like 5 people launched themselves off Dominator at the same time.

    Bluebird yesterday morning after the stratus layer quickly passed by.

    In places it looked messed up but was still decent powder skiing, low angle north facing.

    Graupel laying on the surface.

    Graupel mixed with surface hoar melted onto a temperature/sun crust.

    Time will tell what this layer may produce with some new snow.

    Still some great turns to be had with a little effort.