March 7, 2014

    Nice way to head to work, more snow in Alpine Meadows than on the mountain, Thursday.

    Becoming an early morning ritual, what if someone decides to actually come to the front of the
    abandoned skis and wait in line in person?! Are we setting a precident that could get ugly.

    Early bird certainly got the dry worm yesterday.

    10-40 cm soft slabs Xe (explosive release), Na (Natural Release), Sc (Ski Cut release), Sa (Skier                
    accidental) Xl (Avalauncher release) size 1-2 results from yesterday.

                             Good turns to be had in the morning.





Weather observations for March 7, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hrs this am.

2240 meters     -5, winds were 15-25 KPH from the SSW
2180 meters     -4, winds were 35-50 KPH from the S
1860 meters     -4, winds were 15-25 KPH from the S
1835 meters     -3, winds were 10-35 KPH from the SSE
1650 meters    -.5, Trace of new snow, 6 cm in 24 hours, Base 234 cm
1550 meters      0, 1 cm of new snow, 5 cm in 24 hours, Base 186 cm
  660 meters      0, Valley Temperatures, 13.3 mm of precip yesterday


For the Forecast, the low pressure system exited our area overnight with accumulations of 6 cm in 24 hours. Dry but cloudy weather today with a weak upper ridge trying to establish itself. We may experience some diurnal driven snow flurries during the day in the upper elevations. A slow moving front, associated with a Southwesterly flow will bring moist and warm conditions for Saturday into Sunday. Warm front on Saturday will be followed by a cold front Sunday morning. Models remain in fairly close agreement to a shortwave trough developing on Monday with very light precipitation. An upper ridge of high pressure develops Tuesday into Wednesday with unsettled conditions and sunny breaks expected. The system heading our way for Saturday could bring 30-35 cm of snow by Sunday morning, feeling it may go South, freezing levels are looking lower than they were 2 days ago. More on accumulations tomorrow. For now Guesstimates: 1-3 by Saturday morning, 20-25 cm by Sunday morning, 5-8 cm by Monday morning. Freezing levels have levelled out around 1500 meters and hoping they remain there for the weekend.

    Satellite image from noon yesterday, snowing 1 cm per hour.

    Looks like a break in the action for Friday.


Skier caught in avalanche OK: Jackson Hole

Searchers look for Avalanche Victim: Colorado

Tracking the "Why" of Avalanches: Kim Kircher Blog

Avalanche again blocks BNSF tracks near Essex: Montana

Avalanche Activity near Chamonix: France

Conditions outlook; March 7-14, 2014: CAC Forecasters Blog

Avalanche Risk causing many Highway delays in B.C.: BC Road Conditions

Avalanche Video shot by B.C. Transportation Crews: Coquihalla Highway

    700 Mb model still looking fairly warm with strong winds.

    Temperature/sun crust from Wednesday, buried on March 6Th. South aspect 1860 meters.

    Heading to the Lady, very brittle cornice noses formed Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

    Looked grey and warm for most of the afternoon.

          A recent profile from Blackcomb glacier.

    Snowing at 14:00 hrs.

    Snow Sculpture taking form on Blackcomb.