February 16, 2016

   Skier triggered avalanche buries Colorado Mountain Pass: story in article section.         CAIC Pic

    Broken cloud early Monday morning, February 15, 2016.

    Looking to the North Monday morning.

    Thick moist stratus layer in the valley.

    Stratus layer began to lift by mid morning.

    Upper and lower cloud eventually became one!!

    Started snowing at around 13:30 Hours. Snow line was at the top of the Wizard Chair.

    Snowing at 700 meters at 17:00 Hours Monday.


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

2240 meters     -8, Winds were 22-55 KPH S        --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters     -6, Winds were 35-50 KPH SSW  --Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -6, Winds were 20-35 KPH ESE   --Rendevous
1835 meters     -5, Winds were 25-45 KPH SSE    --Roundhouse 
1650 meters     -3, 19 cm of new snow, 22 cm in 24 hrs, 262 cm Base, RH 87%    --Pig Alley
1550 meters     -4, 17 cm of new snow, 18 cm in 24 hrs, 191 cm Base, RH 91%    --Catskinner

  660 meters    +1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +5.6. 13.4 mm of Precip recorded

    As of 07:00 Hrs we have scattered cloud and unlimited visibility.

For the forecast, unsettled conditions today with a mix of sun and cloud with the freezing level dropping to 800 meters by tonight in a Westerly flow aloft. A weak pacific warm front begins to move onshore for tonight into Wednesday morning with light precipitation ramping up to moderate by Wednesday evening. The freezing level will rise to around 1800 meters mid day Wednesday than drop back down to 1400 meters during the night. We will see a switch to a Southerly flow aloft sometime Wednesday.  Thursday at this time will see another weak front with light precipitation and cooler temperatures. Friday will see a cooler front with light to moderate snowfall. At this time, yet another Saturday with unsettled conditions and likely some nice powder snow. Guesstimates: 2-6 cm by Wednesday morning, 15-20 cm by Thursday morning above 1200 meters, 8-10 cm by Friday morning, 15-20 cm by Saturday morning.

    Unsettled today with a mix of sun and cloud, light snowfall for tonight.

    Weak warm front tonight into Wednesday morning.

    Low will be sending precipitation our way Wednesday/ Thursday.

    Another cooler front for Thursday.

   The extremely warm high that has been just South of us is receding to the South by Thursday

    Cool vigorous front for Friday.




ARTICLES:

Skier triggered avalanche buries Mountain Pass-Hwy 550: Silverton, CO

More details on the avalanche above La Tania: France

The Lady and the avalauncher: Gerry Nunn

Venturing into avalanche country: Know the Risks

Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin for BC: February 1, 2016

Avalanche highlights the importance of being prepared: WhistlerQuestion

    09:00 Hours yesterday morning.

    Image from yesterday at 12:15.

    Big picture yesterday afternoon. Moisture coming out of the South Pacific.

    The next level of the big picture!!

    Sun was trying to get through the high thin cloud layer in the morning.

    Front began to move in mid morning.

    Snow was accumulating at sweep.

    Dumping at 1500 meters -- 16:30 Hrs.