November 24, 2016

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Ski cut on JC wall Wednesday November 23, 2016.


    Avalanche control yesterday on Whistler Mountain produced numerous results up to a size 2.5 Xe with one results stepping down to 16-11-12 Crust. Xe, Xc, Sc ssl involving mostly HST.  On Blackcomb 1 Sr NE  aspect at 2200 m 80 cm deep by 30 m wide. Limited control work on Blackcomb.

YESTERDAY:

    Up load Wednesday morning, November 23, 2016.

    Snowed to the valley overnight, 25 cm at Pig Alley.

    Snowing in the afternoon, 5 cm recorded at 1650 meters, Pig Alley at 14:00 Hrs.

    Image from Wednesday.

    Lots of activity preparing for opening today.

    Snow flurries Wednesday afternoon.


Weather Observations for November 24, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -6, Winds were 60-80 KPH SE  --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters    -6, Winds were 50-80 KPH S    --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -4, Winds were 30-50 KPH SE  --Rendevous
1835 meters    -3, Winds were 25-60 KPH ESE--Roundhouse
1650 meters    -3, 40 cm of new snow, 45 cm in 24 hrs, 155 cm Base, RH 100%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -2, 35 cm of new snow,  40cm in 24 hrs, 101 cm Base  --Catskinner 

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +1.5. 7.2 mm of Precip recorded yest

Maximum wind at 2240 meters was 120 KPH at around 01:30 Hrs this am.

    As of 06:30 Hrs this am it is overcast with limited visibility and snowing 3 cm per hour..



FORECAST:

An intense low pressure off the coast will send an active fronal band our way with strong winds and heavy snowfall in a Southwesterly Flow aloft. The FL should slowly descend today from around 900 m to 500 meters by tonight. Winds will likely be 60-90 for most of the day in the alpine as a second wave in the front pushes through later this morning into this evening. Friday at this time looks to be overcast with light snow. Saturday is looking unsettled as a ridge begins to build for Sunday. Guesstimates--25-30 cm by Friday morning, 5-10 cm by Saturday morning..

    Strong frontal system over our zone.

   Good looking flow with some heavy snowfall early this morning with another wave later today.

   Low pressure sending a strong frontal band our way for today!!

    Looks like the upper level trough will push through on Friday.

    Most of the precipitation appears to go South on Friday.

   Looks pretty nice Sunday into Monday as a ridge develops.

ARTICLES:

Sea to Sky Hazard update: Avalanche Canada

Avalanche Canada tweeks website to offer more information: Global News

Mountain Skills--Alpha Angle: Backcountry Magazine

Avalanches more complex than previously thought: Geo Space

Foehn Winds in Europe: Pistehors.com

    Conditions are very good!!!

    Whistler Mountain during a break in the snow Wednesday.

    A break in the flurries.

    Looks like winter to me!!