March 15, 2014

    Early yesterday morning, looked like we would see some more snow, only 2 cm at 1550 meters.

    Fast moving clouds, sun just coming up behind Disease Ridge.

                                    A pretty awesome morning March 14, 2014; pow on cord.

    Looking at the Hanging Roll on Whistler, days end.


Weather observations for March 15, 2014; taken at 06:00 hrs this am.

2240 meters      -8, Winds were 25-40 KPH from the S
2180 meters      -7, Winds were 40-50 KPH from the SSE
1860 meters      -7, Winds were 15-35 KPH from the ESE
1835 meters      -6, Winds were 15-35 KPH from the SE
1650 meters      -4, 1 cm of new snow, Base 241 cm
1550 meters      -3, 1 cm of new snow, 3 cm in 18 hours,  Base 190 cm
  660 meters     +3, Valley Temperature, 7.4 mm of precip yesterday

Presently in the alpine, obscured skies, limited visibility, snowing less than 1 cm per hour.


For the forecast we can expect a warm front in a Westerly flow for today, baroclinic band may stall over Southern B.C. tonight then slowly slide Southeast early Sunday morning. This frontal band will bring significant precipitation to our zone and strong winds. Sunday will bring light to moderate snow with moderate winds.  Northwest flow on Monday will bring dry unsettled conditions prior to an upper level ridge building for Tuesday. There is disagreement between the GFS and Euro model for a trough approaching for Wednesday, depending on what happens it is possible for moderate snowfall on Wednesday.  Guesstimates: 20-30 + cm for Sunday morning (might get 40), 10-15 cm for Monday morning; Wednesday could produce 15-18 cm.

 Baroclinic Instability: Definition

GFS animation of approaching front: NOAA

    Unsettled in the morning, March 14, 2014.

    Blew the forecast for Friday. Great morning, clouds increased during the day with some snow.

    Northwest flow for Monday with cooler temperatures and unsettled weather.

    Big picture from yesterday at 13:15, system is still fairly far away.



Popularity of backcountry skiing worries some in industry: CBC News

Canadian Rockies Highway avalanche control footage: Kootney National Park

Time lapse of Arctic Outbreaks in North America: January 1 to February 28, 2014

Heaviest snowfall in 15 years, Kashmir; 17 deaths, over 1900 buildings damaged: India

Snow Sponge, When water saturates the snowpack: Cliff Mass Weather Blog

Avalanche Transceiver test 2013-2014: DAV Safety research group

Conditions Outlook; March 14-21, 2014: CAC Forecasters Blog

Arctic Cats written off, Blind Sided by Blind Rider: Explain this to Insurance Company

Cooke City avalanche victim mistook visible tracks as safe conditions: KBZK.com

    The real wet, warm part of the system may go south, brunt of storm should be here by tonight.

    Wind blown snow in 7 Th Heaven, 6 cm of new yesterday morning.

    Clouds and light, early Friday morning on Blackcomb Peak.

    Large cumulus clouds yesterday morning, minor convective activity during the day. 2 cm by 14:30.