January 29, 2016

         Removing the 26 cm of new snow on the deck of Christine's. Thursday January 28, 2016.

    26 cm at 1860 meters.

    Shot placement JC Wall early Thursday morning.

    Ski cutting yesterday morning was very elevation specific. Sz 1 loose wet slides.

    A size 2 vehicle induced, side casting with a snow cat. Boyds's Trees.

    Small wet avalanche with a big destructive potential, which makes it a ? Sz 2.

    Nice looking sucker hole yesterday afternoon.

    Raining in the valley, snowing above 800 meters. Alpine closed for the day.

    Xe on Cougar Chute yesterday morning.

    Power flurry at 1200 meters at 16:15 yesterday afternoon.



Weather Observations for January 29, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -7, Winds were 40-60 KPH SE    --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters    -7, Winds were 30-45 KPH SE    --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -7, Winds were 30-40 KPH ESE  --Rendevous
1835 meters    -5, Winds were 20-40 KPH ESE  --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -4, 1 cm of new snow, 2 cm in 24 hrs, 198 cm Base, RH 98%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -4, Trace of new snow, 1 cm in 24 hrs, 160 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.5. 28.6 mm of Precip recorded

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


For the forecast, an occluded front will move into the area with light snow beginning this morning in a Southerly flow aloft, switching to Westerly this afternoon.. The freezing level will be just above the valley floor, dropping to 600 meters this evening. Winds will pick up and we can expect moderate snowfall by this afternoon into this evening. Overcast conditions will persist into Saturday with light snowfall and the FL remaining at the surface. Sunday will be a similar day with an upper level trough forming, light snow during the day with unsettled conditions by the evening. Monday and Tuesday are looking unsettled with a mix of sun, cloud and flurries. Guesstimates: 10-20 cm by Saturday morning, 4-8 cm by Sunday morning, 2-4 cm by Monday morning.

    Front arriving this morning.

    Westerly flow this afternoon with light to moderate winds.

    Hopefully the low will send 10-20 cm our way by tomorrow. Perhaps it will stall.

    Unsettled Monday & Tuesday with a front expected for Wednesday.




VIDEO FRIDAYS:

Almost caught--Aorosa, Switzerland: Kevin Bantli

Go to 5 min mark for some avalanche footage: Haines Pass, AK

Speed Kite Avalanche Control: Idaho

3 Sisters Avalanche Case Study: Avalanche Canada




ARTICLES:


Live to Ski another Day: Washington State Avalanche Awareness

Play Safe Out There: TumblerRidgeNews

High Avalanche Danger closes Highway 1 Thursday, Snowfall warning for Hwy 3: British Columbia

Common Snow Pack Tests: ASARC

Death in the backcountry: AnchoragePress

    Early Thursday morning.

    Image fro Thursday afternoon.

    Big picture on Thursday.

    Interesting conditions yesterday morning.

    Yup, another crust, this one at 1700 meters.

    Cornices grew yesterday and the night before.

    A few defined layers in the snow pack.

    Lots of graupel early in the afternoon.

    Many wire ropes!!

    Marine layer exiting the valley before the unsettled conditions last night.