January 25, 2015

    Avalanche claims life of a man in Svalbard, Norway. Story below.                               Internet Pic   

    Guide and client succumb to an avalanche in the Southern Alps in France, story below.    Net Pic

    Six ski tourers killed in an avalanche in the Queyras Mountains, France. Story below.      Net Pic

    Just prior to official sunrise at 07:57, Saturday January 24, 2015.

    It did begin to rain around 08:30 Hours, Saturday morning.

    By 16:00 Hours it began to dry out!



Weather Observations for January 25, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        +1, Winds were 55-70 KPH from the S
2180 meters        +2, Winds were 50-75 -KPH from the SSW
1860 meters        +4, Winds were 25-50 KPH from the SSE
1835 meters        +5, Winds were 20-65 KPH from the SSW
1650 meters        +6, No new new snow, Base 128 cm
1550 meters        +5, No new new snow, Base 102 cm,  Relative Humidity 91%.

  660 meters        +7, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +8, 5.3 mm of precip before Midnight yest.

    As of 07:00 Hours we have broken skies, variable visibility, no precip. Some clearing East.

For the forecast, the lingering warm front was very stubborn yesterday and seemed to recirculate back into our zone with very wet conditions. Blew that one!! For today the upper ridge should have a positive impact, with drier conditions,  but the low to the North will still be at our doorstep. This morning will be cloudy and become unsettled by this afternoon. Stratus layer above the valley will hopefully dissipate later today.  Monday will also be unsettled with a mix of sun and cloud with Freezing levels well above the local peaks today lowering to about 1600 meters by Tuesday morning. A weakening front will pass through early Tuesday morning and should dissipate by Tuesday evening when the surface high regains its position bringing unsettled weather into Friday. By mid week the freezing level should be hovering around 1400 meters. Guesstimates 1-2 cm by Tuesday afternoon. 

    Satellite image from 10:00 Hours while we were still getting some light rain, Saturday morning.

    Still some cloud and moisture in the area this morning.

    The surface ridge pushes harder on Monday.

    A weakening front here for Tuesday morning.

    Surface high rebuilds for Wednesday into Friday with unsettled weather and slightly cooler temps.

ARTICLES: 

Avalanche kills 1 man on remote Arctic Island: Svalband, Norway

Avalanche claims two in Puy St Vincent: Southern Alps, France

Another Six skiers killed in an avalanche in France: Queyras Mountains, France

Snow Climate Vulnerability and Resiliency: Wasatch Weather Weenies

Science of Whistler/Blackcomb snow reports: Vancouver Sun

Should ski resorts pay for avalanche injuries, cool video: CNN in Davos

    Even at days end it was still very moist in the valley.

    It was a very moist day in Vancouver on Saturday as well.

    Gloomy and moist in the forest.

    North Shore Mountains were socked in.

    A very dismal sunset on Saturday.