November 26, 2016

Avalanche Activity:

    Xh hanging roll on Whistler Mountain Friday afternoon.

    Xh 161125 Hanging Roll sz 3.5 with 1kg + 2kg.                                              Hiro Okazaki Image

Yesterday avalanche control produced mostly Sz 1-2 ssl with one Sz 3.5-Xh, Xe, Sc.
Natural activity observed on Blackcomb Peak during the storm. Reports of up to size 3.5 storm slabs up in the Duffy area. Layer of concern is the November 12 crust and storm slabs.

    Shot going off on Whistler Peak.

    Some natural activity during the storm, or just after, on Blackcomb Peak.

    Access to 7 Th Heaven closed at the top of JC Chair. Access to backcountry via Disease Ridge.

   Some ssl Sz 1 Sc from Friday morning.

    Friday morning Image.

    Snow conditions Friday were excellent!!



Weather Observations for November 26, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -4, Winds were 40-60 KPH SE   --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters    -4, Winds were 35-60 KPH SE   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -5, Winds were   5-10 KPH NW  --Rendevous
1835 meters    -6, Winds were 10-15 KPH NE   --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -5, 22 cm of new snow, 22 cm in 24 hrs, 188 cm Base, RH 100%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -4, 24 cm of new snow, 25 cm in 24 hrs, 134 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +2.3. 12.8 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have an obscured sky, limited visibility and it is snowing heavily..



For the forecast:

Another impulse of precipitation this morning/afternoon in a Southerly flow aloft. The FL will likely
rise to about 1100 meters with the snow easing off later in the afternoon. Sunday will be an unsettled day with enough moisture for light snow most of the day. A weak ridge will influence the area Monday into Tuesday with a dry period in a Northwesterly flow. Another deep low will likely be here for Wednesday, more on that as we get closer. Guesstimates: 20-25 cm by Sunday morning, 10-15 cm by Monday morning.

    Snow should continue for most of the day.

    Looks like some breaks by tonight.

    Unsettled Sunday morning with enough cloud and moisture for some light snow.

    More breaks by Sunday night.

    Unsettled Monday into Tuesday.

ARTICLES:

Understanding the dynamics of an avalanche: My Science

Avalanche Danger High on Vancouver Island: CBC News

Experimental & Mathematical models for Avalanche Forecasting--PHD Job Oppurtunity: Jobs.ac.uk

Experts share tips for avalanche avoidance: Utah


Observations:

Matt Gunn November 25 at 8:19pm

Spent the day in the Chuting Gallery (tree skiing on south side of Disease ridge).  Conditions for turns: Excellent!  Conditions for trailbreaking: Challenging!  Skied from approximately 2000m to 1760m. Snow is deep so steeper terrain was important. No evidence of wind effect in the glades once below treeline. A few rocks still just below the surface at treeline. Depth at ~ 1800m was 125cm.  Great start to the season.

    Alpine is looking filled in!!

   Shoot on Whistler Mountain.

   Extensive Helibombing on Whistler Friday.

   Next wave of precipitation flowing up the valley later in the day.