April 4, 2014

    A few breaks in the cloud as of 07:00 hrs this morning.

    Early Thursday morning, Cruiser is melting away. Very light precipitation in the morning.

    Avalanche awareness tours every day on Blackcomb at 12:30. Great introduction!!

Snowing less than 1 cm per hour at 14:00 Hrs. 1 cm was measured at 14:30 hrs yesterday (total since 06:30 hrs in the morning), from 14:30 to 17:00 hrs it snowed 2 cm.

    Interesting outdoor wardrobe!! Big hands!

    Snow line on April 3, 2014 at 17:00 hrs was just above the tube park on Blackcomb.


Weather observations for April 4, 2014;  taken at 06:00 hrs.

2240 meters      -6, Winds were 15-20 KPH from the S
2180 meters      -5, Winds were 30-40 KPH from the S
1860 meters      -5, Winds were 15-25 KPH from the SSE
1835 meters      -4, Winds were 15-25 KPH from the S
1650 meters      -2, 12 cm of new snow, 14 cm in 24 hours, Base 282 cm
1550 meters      -2, 10 cm of new snow, 11 cm in 24 hours, Base 224 cm
  660 meters      +1, Valley Temperature, Max temp yest +5, 3 mm of precip



For the forecast the low pressure is slowly moving out of our zone with a very weak dirty flat ridge trying to build in the offshore waters. Looks mostly cloudy with some very light precipitation in a Westerly Flow. A weak frontal system will arrive for Saturday with light precipitation amounts and mostly cloudy skies. Sunday starts out unsettled but clouds will slowly dominate.  Models are undecided on Monday and Tuesday, more likely warm temperatures and rain!! Freezing levels will rise on Sunday night to 1800 meters and go to 2000 meters by Tuesday afternoon.  Not sure of any nice weather for a while! Guesstimates 5-7 cm by Saturday morning, 4-6 cm by Sunday morning, trace to 2 for Monday morning. Freezing levels during this time frame will be between 900 meters and 1400 meters.  Looking like the potential for many mm of rain by Wednesday morning. Possibly 30-40 mm of the clear stuff by Tuesday evening. More on that later. Temperatures will hopefully drop for Wednesday.

As of 07:00 hrs in the Alpine the skies are overcast the visibility is variable and it is snowing less than 1 cm per hour.

Avalanche activity yesterday in the corridor was minimal, Sc produced isolated size 1 pockets in our zone, Some surface sluff  releases to the North.

    Bands of Precipitation heading our way, satellite image from yesterday morning.

    High pressure for Sunday into Monday, still some moisture around. Very warm FL 1900 meters.                
    Looking at other models we may be in for a wet and warm Monday - Tuesday.

    Still enough moisture around to make it a wet weekend.

    Some precipitation for this evening. Very light for today, possibly 4-6 cm by Saturday morning.

Articles:

Avalanche Awareness tips for Sledders: BCSF

A Sisterhood of the Snow in Alaska: Alaska Heliskiing

County Attorney reviewing Mt Jumbo avalanche case: Missoula, Montana

Missoula Police: Don't charge Snowboarder who caused Mount Jumbo avalanche: Montana

Avalanche Alley closes again: Boise, Idaho

Avalanche Deaths in Canada; 1996-2014(YTD): BC Coroners Sevice

German Avalanche transceiver tests for 2014: Deutscher Alpenverein

Avalanche survivor owes rescuers "the world" : Calgary Herald




Video Fridays:

Micheal Franti rocks out the Tram: Jackson Hole Tram

Opposite Direction Rodeo 540 Fist Bump: The Awesome Brofist

Snow Talks; Avalanche Forecast Summary April 4-9 2014: Calgary Outdoor Center

Switch Telemarking: Dare 2B

Reine Barkered's Run: Freeride World Tour, Verbier

    Tree bombs on the lower part of the mountain have made for interesting conditions.

   Nesters weather plot at 660 meters was looking spring like April 3, 2014. Raining lightly.