December 10, 2014

    Early Tuesday morning, testing out the Gore-Tex.

    Avalanche control work produced size 1-2 wet slides in the am. Skiing in a slurry.

    Natural avalanches, some from cornice drops during the storm early Tuesday morning. Size 1 & 2.

    Sad to see some of the natural and man made snow flowing to Lillooet Lake.

    Man made snow is pretty resilient. Still able to get to the valley. Reports of lightning yesterday aft.


Weather observations for December10, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters      -1.5, Winds were 60-90 KPH from the SSE
2180 meters      -1.5, Winds were 65-80 KPH from the ?
1860 meters      -0.6, Winds were 25-50 KPH from the ESE
1835 meters          0, Winds were 20-50 KPH from the ESE
1650 meters        +1, 8 cm of new snow,  Base 68 cm
1550 meters        +1, 6 cm of new snow, Base 40 cm Relative Humidity 100%

  660 meters        +3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +8.5, 42 mm of Precip recorded

    As 0f 07:00 Hours we have wet snow, obscured skies, limited visibility; +0.5 at 1835 meters.

For the forecast, the warm front arrived early this morning with more precipitation and high winds for today in a SW flow aloft. A strong cold front will pass through this evening with more precipitation and a lowering freezing level. For this morning into tonight the freezing level will be between 2000 to 1500 meters.  FL could drop to 1500 meters by Thursday morning. Light to moderate snow for Thursday above 1200 meters. Friday is looking unsettled with some snow flurries. High pressure aloft will influence the pattern for Saturday and Sunday with mild temperatures and a freezing level varying from 800 meters to 1400 meters. Guesstimates: 20-30 cm above 1400 meters for Thursday morning, 15-20 cm above 1200 meters for Friday morning.

Luckily we are in the mountains, high tides and storm surges today will be very unwelcome for the coastal population. Record high yesterday in Vancouver. Minimum temperature early this morning at 2240 meters was -4 before the arrival of the warm front. Maximum winds at that elevation over night was 110 KPH. Today is almost a carbon copy of yesterday, less wind and slightly less precipitation.
We can expect 25-30 mm of precip in the valley today.

    Cooler temperatures for today with strong winds.

    Image from yesterday at noon, the front began to exit with strong winds.

         Jet stream was directed in our general area, 172 KPH gust at 2240 meters at 14:20 yesterday.

    Some brief clearing around noon yesterday, Georgia Strait was open briefly.

    Cold front follows the warm front later today.

    Low is still looking South bound for Thursday. Strong winds can be expected on its exit.


ARTICLES:

Chic-Chocs Avalanche Advisory: Avalanche Quebec

Weird Arctic weather causes near-disaster in Northernmost Town: Physics Buzz Blog

The Daily Pow-A snow burial teaches what's important in life: Adventure Journal

Some avalanche information from Montana: GNFCA

Tied to the Mast: The Human Factor

Avalanche awareness tours begin for the season on Blackcomb Today: 12:30 Tours

    A bit of an upside down day. Good day to tune your skis. Skiing was decent on the groomed.

    Patrol dug ditches to take away the pooling water.

    The eye of the storm passed by around 11:45. 122 KPH at 1860 meters. Flag did not do well!!

    Cool light on the bridge over Fitzsimmons Creek. Different colours for an East or West passage.