December 13, 2014

    Avalanche Control produced some Size 1 results yesterday morning. Cougar Chute on Blackcomb.

    Size 1.5 result on Whistler from yesterday December 12, 2014.

    Natural Size 3, out of Whistler Bowl sometime Thursday night early Friday morning.

    The alpine on both mountains is scheduled to open today.

    Some intel from Tony:

Here is a photo, you can see the crown that is blown in by last nights snow in the background, the Dec. 09 crust near the surface, the Nov. 28 crust mid profile and the set of crusts (Nov 9/20?) near the bottom. You can also see a portion of the crown line which ends on the top of the uppermost mid Nov. crust in a layer of 1F- 2 cm layer 1.5mm FCxr crystals.

We observed the Fx line yesterday at 2 pm; less than 24 hours old?

Weather observations for December 13, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters      -10, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the SSW
2180 meters        -7, Winds were 5-10 KPH from No Data
1860 meters        -6, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the NE
1835 meters        -7, Winds were 0-5 KPH from the SSW
1650 meters        -6, Trace of new snow,  Base 98 cm
1550 meters        -4, 1 cm of new snow, Base 66 cm Relative Humidity 99%

  660 meters       +1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +6.6, 9.1 mm of Precip recorded early Yest Morning

    As of 07:00 Hours we have clear skies, unlimited visibility with a dissipating stratus layer mid Mtn.

For the forecast, upper level trough exited the area leaving behind mostly sunny skies. The upper ridge will continue to bring sunny conditions into tomorrow with a low level flow offshore. The low pressure off shore will likely split , bringing cloud back to the area sometime Monday. Tuesday is looking cloudy with some light snow expected just above the valley floor. Freezing levels for the next few days will be hovering around 1000 meters. Enjoy the sun. Stratus layer above the valley floor this morning. Precipitation last night from the layer in the valley while the alpine remained cold and dry.

    Model for today.

    Looks nice for Sunday as well.

    Front will move on shore Monday afternoon.

ARTICLES:

Ski Burning in Telluride: Let it Snow

Avalanche Airbag Backpack-Use one or Not: Backcountry.com

Jumbo Glacier Development put on Hold: Foundation in an Avalanche Zone

Ski Accident results in criminal plea: Telluride Collision

    Unsettled weather December 12, 2014; with some great skiing on the new surface.

    New snow covered the deck furniture at the Roundhouse.

    People were hiking where they could yesterday.

    Ptarmigan on Blackcomb Mountain. There were 5 of them!!

    New snow over the debris in Lakeside Bowl, be wary of frozen debris under the new in the bowls.

    Different perspective of the Whistler Bowl Natural Avalanche.

   Three of the gaggle of 5.