January 17, 2016

   Two fatalities in an avalanche in Verbier, story in article section below.                                 Net Pic

    Sun releases from Friday January 15, 2016.                                                       Allister Collis Image

    Snowing and blowing yest am at 2240 meters. -4 with 50-80 KPH winds at 10:00 Hours. Jan 16Th.

    Great tree skiing yesterday morning.

    There were fresh tracks to be had at 10:30 in the am.

    Snowing in the valley at noon.

    Avalanche awareness days January 16-17, all welcome today at the top of the Solar Coaster.

    Sucker hole at days end.


Weather Observations for January 17, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -5, Winds were 40-65 KPH SE    --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters    -5, Winds were 50-60 KPH SE     --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -5, Winds were 10-25 KPH SE     --Rendevous
1835 meters    -3, Winds were 20-50 KPH ESE   --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -3, 4 cm of new snow, 13 cm in 24 hrs, 190 cm Base, RH 96%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -2, 4 cm of new snow, 11 cm in 24 hrs, 144 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -0.2. 6.8 mm of Precip recorded

Yesterday in the Sea to Sky corridor, size 1 wind slabs were observed, some Sc and Na. More activity towards the Duffy. Still some slabs releasing on the 16-01-16 SH. The 16-01-11 SH layer has been stubborn but with more load could be an issue.

   As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have obscured skies, variable visibility and it is snowing < 1 cm per Hr.

For the forecast, another vigorous Pacific frontal band in a moist Southwest upper flow will bring light/moderate snowfall with strong winds. The low driving the front is much deeper so we should see more snow and strong SE winds out of today's storm. Monday has a weak upper level ridge building with unsettled weather and a dash of snow arriving on Monday evening. Freezing levels will continue to be hovering just above or near the valley. The models are trending toward a 1200 meter Fl but it seems there is enough cold air from the interior to make a difference. Yesterday at noon it was +1 in Squamish, -2 in the Whistler Valley. The temperature in the valley maxed out at 0 by 15:30 Hours. It is a moist system out of the South so there is a good chance of going to 1200 meters but dropping back down tonight.  Tuesday at this time is also looking unsettled with a major system moving into the area Wednesday evening. Looks juicy at this time, could be a 30-40 cm dump on Thursday. More on that as we get closer. There is a chance that the majority of the moisture in today's front may go South, but but if it does not we will be happy!!  Guesstimates: 15-25 cm by Monday morning, 8-12 cm by Tuesday morning, 0-2 cm by Wednesday morning.

    Deep low tapping into some subtropical moisture.

    Most of the moisture is directed to the South, but we should get a decent amount of precipitation.

   Unsettled for Monday and Tuesday with an impulse of moisture Monday night.

    Series of Southwesterly Pacific Frontal Bands.

    Plume of moisture directed at the West Coast of North America.


ARTICLES:

Fatal avalanche near Verbier: Switzerland

When you become engulfed in a size 3: Andrea Binning

Changing conditions require a change in mindset: Avalanche Canada

Will avalanche events start to increase: Tutor2U

Dash cam captures dry avalanche : Swiss Alps

January El Nino Update: SnowBrains

French School teacher had attended psychiatric unit before Alps avalanche tragedy: IBT

    Around noon yesterday, snowing lightly.

   That low is looking sweet!! The right track and we could get the goods.

    Blowing and snowing at 1860 meters around 13:00 Hours. -2 with 30-55 KPH out of ESE.

    At the Catskinner weather plot, 1550 M we received 7 cm from 06:00 to 14:00 Hours, yesterday.

    Yup 7 cm. 9 cm were recorded at the Pig Alley weather plot at 1650 meters during the same time.

    Visibility was best mid mountain for most of the day.

    Below the stratus layer yesterday afternoon.