January 25, 2016

   An avalanche on Mount Herman near Mt Baker has killed a person, story in articles. Steve Cole Pic

   West Face of Trick Peak taken from Paul Ridge on Jan 23 rd by Steven Jones. A big Na.

    Rutherford Avalanche Cycle and intel from Toby Salin, Images taken Saturday January 23, 2016.

Lots of naturals running on pretty much every aspect on any slope over 30 degrees. Very destructive events in the 1500m-1850m zone, so Id imagine the surface hoar problem has been mitigated for the most part. The last photo taken from Rutherford FSR shows signs of big destructive slides coming down from treeline. Crown was big! 

Above 1850m snowpack reacting like normal activity,with isolated point release storm slabs on steeper aspects.

Thanks Toby

    Sunrise (07:57) Sunday morning Jan 24, 2016. Valley cloud lifting.

   There were moments of great light yesterdays morning.

    Solo ski tourer on Lower  Disease Ridge.

    Fairly good light early in the afternoon.

    Some of the debris from a natural avalanche in Blackcomb Glacier off Phalnax Ridge

    Clouds from the Low to our South looked nasty at Days end.




Weather Observations for January 25, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -7, Winds were 15-25 KPH SSW  --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters    -7, Winds were 15-20 KPH SW     --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -5, Winds were 5-15 KPH E          --Rendevous
1835 meters    -4, Winds were 5-10 KPH E          --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -5, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 202 cm Base, RH 95%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -5, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 174 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters    -2, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +2.9. 0.9 mm of Precip recorded

   As of 07:00 hours we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.


For the forecast, mostly cloudy skies for today in a Westerly flow aloft, hard to tell if the high pressure will influence our zone with the low to the North sending cloud our way. For now going with unsettled this morning, cloudier in the afternoon. The freezing level could rise to about 1400 meters by this evening. A weak warm front will move onshore tonight with light precipitation and a freezing level ranging from 1800 m-1500 m, into Tuesday. A strong moist windy warm front will push through Wednesday into Thursday with a FL ranging from 2000-1600 meters. Friday will likely be overcast with some snow as an upper level trough moves through with cooler temperatures. More on that by tomorrow. Guesstimates: 2-4 cm by Tuesday morning, 12-14 cm by Wednesday morning, 30-50 cm by Thursday morning above 1500 meters, 4-6 cm by Friday morning.

    Clouds from the low to the North with high pressure just too the South.

   Weak warm front moves onshore this evening.

    Slow moving warm front for Wednesday.

    Wet and windy Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

   Another Pineapple express from Maui will barrel down the zone by Thursday.


ARTICLES:

Avalanche kills person near Mount Baker: Washington State

Avalanche kills snowmobiler: Torpy area NE of Prince George

Kalispell man killed in an avalanche snowmobiling: Montana

Record number of Hatcher Pass Avalanche Deaths puts focus on Awareness: Alaska

US Coastal Blizzard paralyses New York & Washington: DailyWorld

    Was still finding some decent turns yesterday afternoon.

    Cool wind feature at the Blow Hole.

    Beacon Checker at the entrance to the park on Blackcomb Glacier.

    Volunteer Avi Awareness Guides needed. Check out this link for details:WB Job Application

    Pow on She's Tight.

    Ptarmigan on Swamp Thing.

    Having a snack.