January 19, 2015

    Three deadly avalanches in Japan over the weekend. Article below.                         Internet Photo

    By 11:30 on Sunday the precipitation eased, started to slowly cool to -2. Winds were 15-75 SSE.

    Blowing and snowing at 1835 meters Sunday morning.                             Suze Cumming Image

    Unfortunately the intense front prevented the alpine from opening Sunday.   Suze Cumming Image

    At 14:30 Hours it broke again. Temperature at 1835 meters was -4, winds were still 20-75 SSW.


Weather Observations for January 19, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        -8, Winds were 30-35 KPH from the S
2180 meters        -6, Winds were 30-40 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters        -7, Winds were 10-20 KPH from the E
1835 meters        -5, Winds were 20-45 KPH from the SSW
1650 meters        -4, 4 cm of new new snow, 9 cm in 24 hours,  Base 159 cm
1550 meters        -1, 4 cm of new new snow, 11 cm in 24 hours,  Base 130 cm,  RH 90%.

  660 meters       +2, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +4.4, Precip 18.6 mils in 24 hours

   As of 07:00 Hours we have scattered clouds with unlimited visibility.

                                        Catskinner Weather Plot this am.  Tasso Lazaridis Pic

For the forecast, mostly cloudy this morning with a moist Westerly flow moving East. A chance of some isolated snow flurries exist with a freezing level hovering around 1000 meters. The offshore upper level ridge will bring unsettled conditions this morning and build into Tuesday through Friday. There are several fronts being forced to the North by the high so there will be clouds spilling into the area through out the week. A warm Pacific front may arrive Friday evening. There is some uncertainty in the models so more on that as we get closer.

    Satellite image from 11:30 Sunday January 18, 2015.

    At 15:00 Hours there was not a lot of change.

    Cloudy this morning in a Westerly flow, as the ridge builds it will turn to a Northwesterly Flow.

    High pressure will begin to build this afternoon. Will take a while to flush the lingering cloud.

    Looking unsettled for Tuesday, clouds will spill in from low to the North.

    Dry weather for Wednesday as the ridge builds per the Pacific NW.

    Possible weak front for Wednesday but models are conflicting.


ARTICLES:

Snowshoer killed in a Pyrenees avalanche: France

Two Argentines among four people killed by avalanches over the weekend: Japan

Three skiers rescued from an avalanche at Niseko January 17, 2015: Japan

Martini Glasses, Mattresses, and the developing avalanche scenario: Avalanche Canada

BC Storm triggers avalanche warning: CBC News

Avalanche Rescue: Let loose the dogs of snow: Gear Patrol

Victoria Winds: So what happened?: 50 Shades of Van

Latest Coast Mountain Conditions Report, January 14, 2015: Escape Route

    Good turn out for Fresh Tracks January 18, 2015.                                         Suze Cumming Image

    Early Sunday morning, after the First Tracks went up, it was relatively quiet.

    Peak chair at 11:30 hours Sunday; -3, 70-110 KPH from the S. Max gust at 10:45 was 120 KPH.

    Peak Chair at 15:00 Hours Sunday; -5, Winds 55-85 KPH SSW. Storm just kept going.