February 4, 2016

    A snowmobiler has died in an avalanche at Wolf Creek Pass, CO-info in article section. Net Pic

     2300 m., S.S.E aspect, Feb. 2, 2016 Cottonwood Creek, (Duffey lake area) 350m fracture line.remote (20m.) Initial       
     fracture on Jan hoar frost. Stepped down creating size 3 ran 750m. Thanks to Greg Smith for submitting this.

     February 2, 2016  Cottonwood Creek.                                                                                              Greg Smith Photo               

    February 2, 2016-Cottonwood Creek                                                                      Greg Smith Photo

    Snowing lightly first lift up Wednesday February 3, 2016. Only 1 cm recorded at 14:00 Hrs.

   Very grey in the morning with very little precip.

    Making snow in the valley Wednesday morning.

   Wind transport yesterday morning.

    Snowing moderately at 18:00 hours last night.


Weather Observations for February 4, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -6, Winds were 20-30 KPH SSW   --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters     -7, Winds were 30-35 KPH SSW   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -6, Winds were 10-20 KPH SE       --Rendevous
1835 meters     -4, Winds were 15-30 KPH S         --Roundhouse
1650 meters     -3, 10 cm of new snow, 11 cm in 24 hrs, 208 cm Base, RH 98%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters     -4, 12 cm of new snow, 13 cm in 24 hrs, 179 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was 0. 5.1 mm of Precip recorded

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


For the forecast, the cold front pushed through early this morning with an upper trough following in its wake. We can expect overcast skies today with light snow in a Southwest flow aloft. A weak ridge of high pressure is close by so we may see some breaks this afternoon, but unlikely. The freezing level will hover around  1000 meters. A stronger--warmer--wetter front pushes in on Friday into Friday night with moderate snowfall and strong winds. The FL could rise to 1400 meters on Friday morning, dropping to around 800 meters by Friday night. At this time Saturday is looking unsettled as a ridge begins to build into the area with a cool Northwesterly flow aloft. We will likely see a weak short lived frontal band for Sunday morning, then the ridge rebuilding for the late afternoon/evening. Monday into Tuesday, we will see a warm off shore flow bring rising freezing levels to the area with mostly sunny skies. Guesstimates: 6-8 cm for Friday morning, 20-30 cm for Saturday morning.

   Trough moving through, chance of some breaks.

    Trough with light snow for today.

    Front for Friday into early Saturday morning.

   A front to the North will touch our zone early Sunday morning with some light snowfall.

   High pressure will bring warm temperatures into the area Monday into Tuesday from the South.


ARTICLES:

Snowmobiler killed in an avalanche in Colorado: Wolf Creek Pass

Technical report on above incident: CAIC Party involved did not have shovels!!?

Avalanche Canada stresses need for preparedness in wake of McBride Fatalities: Mountaineer

Employers with workers in BC backcountry urged to consider avalanche risks: Infotel.ca

Antarctic study identifies melting ice sheet's role in Sea Level Rise: Science Daily

Avalanches make for a deadly January in North America: Pique

   Snow falling in the afternoon yesterday, but very light.

    Southwest flow but not a pineapple!!

    Big picture yesterday, will be interesting to see how far South it draws for Friday.

    Very light snowfall in the valley. Front finally arrived!!

    Whister or Whoville?

    Snowing in the valley last night.