February 9, 2015

    One person killed in an avalanche in the Canadien Couloir on Bellcote North Face,  Story below.

    Four people succumb to avalanches in 3 incidents in the Italian Alps, story below.      Net Pic

    Some breaks early on Sunday morning.

    Still up loading at 10:45, Sunday February 8, 2015.

    Early Sunday morning with Green lake in the foreground.

    Visibility was challenging at times on Sunday.

    One meter fracture line NE aspect explosive control at 2200 M. Feb 08, 2015   Shaun Mac Photo

                      Debris from Xe on Shark Fin. Size 2.                   Shaun MacLean Pic

    Just before sunset Sunday evening which was officially at 17:17!


Weather Observations for February 9, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        -2, Winds were 15-30 KPH from the SE
2180 meters        -1, Winds were 15-25 KPH from the S
1860 meters        -1, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the E
1835 meters         0, Winds were 15-25 KPH from the SE
1650 meters       +1, 5 cm of new new snow, Base 158 cm
1550 meters         0, 5 cm of new new snow, Base 120 cm,  Relative Humidity 100%.

  660 meters       +3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +8.1, 3.2 mm recorded before midnight.


                               

For the forecast, a weakening occluded front is moving towards the area in a Southerly flow associated with a relatively warm air mass, (FL rising to 2000 meters today). Cloudy moist conditions for today with light rain, and a fluctuating FL between 1700 meters and 2000 meters. As the front passes we will see a more Westerly flow develop which will bring warmer temperatures to the area by Wednesday. Tuesday the upper ridge builds with unsettled conditions Tuesday morning, changing to cloudier skies in the afternoon then unsettled conditions Tuesday night into Wednesday. Another weak front will pass through the area on Wednesday night with light rain expected into Thursday morning. The ridge will again try to push back into our zone for Thursday. Very unsettled conditions of the week with the big low in the North Pacific spinning cloud into a very weak high pressure system to the South.  Guesstimates: Light rain, but we may see a 1 - 3 cm by Tuesday morning above 1700 meters.

ARTICLES:

One Skier is in Hospital after another avalanche near Golden, B.C.: Out of Bounds, Kicking Horse Resort

Avalanches in Italy have claimed 4 lives: Cortina,Cuneo, and Mount Agaro

Three ski instructors swept away by an avalanche in Savoy-1 Dead: France

Recovery Mission continues to find Mark Selesse after avalanche in Banff National Park: CBC News

Snowmobiler's--Whats in your Pack?: Burandt's Backcountry Adventures

Lack of snow is forcing early closure of Mt. Washington: CHEK News

Cornice chunk in Whistler Bowl, careful skiing in the bowls in flat light. There were some size 1.5 to Size 2 Xe yesterday in the storm snow. Larger slides up to size 3 Saturday and  size 2.5 Sunday were going on the February 1 crust. Tim Haggerty image.

   Some great holes went through on Sunday.

Avalanche control results on Ladies First route produced Size 2 to Size 2.5 results with explosives. Size 2.5 on the lady was 2 Meters at highest point of crown tapering to 1 meter. 200 meters wide, ran 400 meters. Large slides have been sliding on the February 1 crust. Allister Collis Photo