January 24, 2016

    Avalanche mitigation on Little Whistler Sat am. 20 cm by 50 M slab,  Mike Cooperberg Photo

    An avalanche on Georgian Peaks, Ontario January 22, 2016.                             Mike Owen Photo

    Size 3 natural activity near Tricouni Peak.                                                   Andrew Mcaloon Image

    Another awesome day Saturday January 23, 2016.

    Keeners for GE, heli bombing helped get it opened quickly. Best snow above 1850 meters.

    Was challenging even with cheater skis on some aspects.

    Unfortunately some people did not do well with the variable conditions.

    Nice snow above 1850 meters.

    Looking South yesterday morning.

    Looking Northwest.

    Sunset was officially at 16:49.


Weather Observations for January 24, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -8, Winds were 11-15 KPH SSE  --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters    -8, Winds were 15-20 KPH SSW --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -8, Winds were 5-10 KPH E         --Rendevous
1835 meters    -7, Winds were 5-10 KPH S         --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -5, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 202 cm Base, RH 98%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -5, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 176 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +4.4. 0 mm of Precip recorded

Avalanche control on WB produced some size 1-2 avalanches yesterday, Xe. Wide spread natural activity during the storm produced up to Size 3 avalanches in the corridor.

    As of 07:00 Hours we have scattered cloud and unlimited visibility, with a lifting stratus layer.


For the forecast, valley stratus layer this am with the chance of some isolated snow flurries. Unsettled this afternoon with a mix of sun and cloud as a weak ridge of high pressure aloft develops.  Freezing level will hover just above the valley floor rising to about 1000 meters this afternoon. Monday is still looking unsettled with more sun than cloud, with the FL rising to 1200 meters later in the day. Low level onshore flow will send some cloud our way Sunday and Monday. A Pacific front will move on shore for Tuesday with a moist warm Southerly flow. A wet windy warm front arrives Wednesday with sub tropical moisture from Hawaii. More on the Pineapple express as we get closer.

    High pressure aloft with a low level onshore flow. Marine stratus layer above valley floor.

    Still lots of moisture off the coast. Unsettled weather for today.

   Mostly sunny on Monday with onshore flow.

    Weak warm front for Tuesday. FL as high as 1700 meters.

    Pineapple for Wednesday with strong winds, heavy precip Wed night, FL > to as high as 2000 M


ARTICLES:

Authorities recover body of avalanche victim: Missing hiker found in Colorado

Special Avalanche warning issued this weekend: Avalanche Canada

Avalanche Mitigation--Three essentials work together to prevent disaster: Colorado

Skier survives deadly Utah avalanche by stopping near a tree: Salt Lake City

View from the Top-and how Whistler got there: Globe & Mail

    Spanky's saw some traffic.

  The tube park was running fast yesterday morning.  

    Black Tusk looking White.

    Some activity in the Poop Chutes.

   Wide spread natural activity in the Tricouni Area.                                                           PMS image