January 16, 2016

    Photos from Washington State, size 2 slabs on Surface Hoar.                            Reid Pitman Photos

   The front moving in from the South early Friday January 15, 2016.

   Awesome morning, great cruising and sweet snow on North aspects.

    Pre frontal cloud development. Mount Garibaldi.

    Still a stratus layer to the North yesterday morning.

    Black Tusk around noon yesterday.

    Progressively got cloudier in the afternoon.

    Front was over us by 15:00 Hours.


Weather Observations for January 16, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -5, Winds were 35-55 KPH SSE  --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters    -5, Winds were 40-50 KPH SE     --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -5, Winds were 5-10  KPH W       --Rendevous
1835 meters    -2, Winds were 20-40 KPH SE     --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -3, 3 cm of new snow, 3 cm in 24 hrs, 180 cm Base, RH 100%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -2, 2 cm of new snow, 2 cm in 24 hrs, 137 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters    -2, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -0.8. 0 mm of Precip recorded

   As of 07:00 Hours we have overcast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing less than 1 cm per hour

For the forecast, a weak Pacific front will move over the area today with light snowfall and the freezing level rising to around 1200 meters. Another front arrives Sunday with light/moderate snowfall and a similar freezing level. We can expect stronger winds tomorrow. A series of fronts will pass over our zone throughout next week with a progressive flow pattern. Wednesday will likely be unsettled giving us a reprieve in the moist flow. Freezing levels will likely range from 800 to 1200 meters during this active cycle. As always there is good chance we could see some of the forecasted snowfall to migrate South. Lets hope not, we deserve our share. Guesstimates: 10-15 cm by Sunday morning, 20-25 cm by Monday morning

   Weak Pacific front for today.

    Low pressure should send more snow tomorrow.

    Lets hope models are right and we get our share.



ARTICLES:

Teacher of students killed in avalanche has been charged with manslaughter: France

When an ice cave collapses, its fairly spontaneous: Washington, State

Search for missing ski instructor underway despite avalanche risk: Lake Tahoe Area

Do Not use Smart Phone apps as an avalanche becon: Avalanche Canada

Avalanche Information Sharing  program expanded: Pique

Footage on recent avalanche in Idaho: You Tube

    Lots of stratus cloud surrounding our zone yesterday.

   Looks like most of the precipitation may go South. Big picture yesterday around noon.

    Cloud creeping over Rainbow Mountain.

    Always more rime at the Whistler Peak.

   Wind feature by the entrance to West Cirque.

    Ipsoot area late yesterday afternoon.