December 20, 2015

    Avalanche in Norwegian Arctic Village, story below in articles.                          Reuters Image

    Skier under The Peak Chair. Challenging light, good day for couloir skiing. December 19, 2015.

       Telemarker making some nice pow turns.

    Where was everyone, satin like snow surface.

    Laying down a race track.

Weather Observations for December 20, 2015: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -8, Winds were 60-85 KPH SSE    --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters     -8, Winds were 35-50 KPH S         --Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -7, Winds were 30-55 KPH E         --Rendevous
1835 meters     -5, Winds were 15-35 KPH ESE    --Roundhouse
1650 meters     -4, 28 of new, 35 cm in 24 hours 205 cm Base, Relative Humidity 97%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters     -5, 21 cm of new, 148 cm Base    --Catskinner 

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +0.6. 2.0 mm of precipitation recorded.

   As of 07:00 Hours this am we have overcast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing lightly.



For the forecast, overcast for today with light snowfall and a Freezing level hovering around the valley floor. We will see a strong Westerly flow aloft as a vigorous system heads South with some snow for us. Monday is groundhog day with a little less snow and so is Tuesday. System Tuesday evening may have some more energy for some nice powder. There is no sun expected until maybe Christmas day and that may not materialise.  Guesstimates: 10-15 cm by Monday morning, 15-20 cm by Tuesday morning, 20-25 cm by Wednesday morning .

   Low pressure is spinning the majority of the precipitation South.

    Low is winning the battle with more snow on the way.

    Strong Southeast pressure gradient will bring strong winds to the alpine.

    Low pressure moves South on Monday. Cool and wet systems for early next week.

    Another frontal wave expected on Tuesday.

    Long term model for X-Mas day is still looking like unsettled weather.




ARTICLES:

Update on Norwegian Arctic Avalanche: Longyearbyen

Man killed in Montana Avalanche: Cooke City

Scary conditions in Montana: GNFAC

The Scariest Ski Slopes in the World: According to MailOnLine

    We may be by passed again. But we did get our share of the goods.

    Challenging visibility on top of Whistler Saturday.

    Tree skiing is improving.

    Peak to Peak run from Blackcomb Side.

   One of the three weather plots used for measurements of snow.  Cat skinner at 1550 meters.

   Pig Alley at 1650 meters.

    Nesters Road at 660 meters.

    Awesome coverage!!