February 18, 2016

         Backcountry snowboarder released avalanche in Chugach Range Alaska-Mike Records Pic

    Moist look early Wednesday February 17, 2016.

    Isolated Sz 1 soft slab Sc lee alpine terrain yesterday morning.

    The 5 cm of new snow was skiing well in the morning.

    Snowing for a while in the morning, picked up 3 cm by 14:30 hours.

    It did warm up by 16:00 hours with very light rain (mist) at 1860 meters 0 degrees.

    Warm air mass at 16:30 Hours.


Weather Observations for February 18, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -4, Winds were 25-40 KPH S       --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters     -4, Winds were 30-50 KPH SSW --Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -4, Winds were 15-30 KPH SE     --Rendevous
1835 meters     -3, Winds were 25-50 KPH SW    --Roundhouse 
1650 meters     -1, 12 cm of new snow, 14 cm in 24 hrs, 265 cm Base, RH 100%    --Pig Alley
1550 meters     -2, 10 cm of new snow, 13 cm in 24 hrs, 206 cm Base, RH 100%    --Catskinner

  660 meters    +1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +1.9. 4.1 mm of Precip recorded

    As of 07:00 Hours we have overcast skies, limited visibility and it is snowing lightly.

For the forecast, a weak cold frontal band moving through today with light precipitation and a FL expected to hover around 1200 meters in a Southerly flow aloft. Friday is looking overcast with a more vigorous frontal band moving through with light precipitation, ramping up to moderate in the evening with an impulse of snow overnight. The FL could get as high as 1400 meters on Friday afternoon, dropping to 800 in the evening. At this time Saturday is looking unsettled but there is a good chance it will be mostly cloudy with some breaks and isolated snow flurries, with the FL hovering around 900 meters. A weak upper level trough for Sunday with the chance of some sunny breaks and light precipitation in the evening. As of now a warm high pressure system will influence our zone from the South by Tuesday. Guesstimates: 4-8 cm by Friday morning, 10-15 cm by Saturday morning, 2-4 cm by Sunday morning

    Weakening low pushing onshore for today.

   Southerly flow.

    Weak front for today with light precipitation in a Southerly flow aloft .

    NAM model for today.

    Vigorous front for Friday with an impulse of moderate precip Friday Night and stronger winds.

    Front for Friday begins with light precipitation changing to moderate in the afternoon.

    Westerly flow for Saturday, with unsettled conditions expected.

    Unsettled for Sunday with snow on Sunday night into Monday.

    Cold front Sunday afternoon.

    As of now it looks like a warm ridge of high pressure builds for Tuesday.

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    Cold front on the coast-image from Wednesday morning at 09:30 Hours.

    Big picture from yesterday around Noon.

    More moisture out there for Friday.

    Mount Currie yesterday afternoon.

    Sending it on Tuesday.

   Sz 1.5 from Tuesday morning.

    Light rain at 1550 meters yesterday afternoon.

    CAA Level 1 Course--Ectp down 68 Fc on Feb 10 mfrc.                               Tim Haggerty Photo

 
Some discussion from the observations made at Russet Ridge, there was a Temperature crust formed on Valentines Day which was buried on the 15Th. Thanks to Tim Haggerty for his remarks.