December 10, 2016

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Not much avalanche activity reported yesterday, some nice skiing in Cougar Chutes.

A few Sz 1 Na (Natural) and Sc (ski cut) observed. Windslabs forming from strong outflows on Wednesday and Thursday.





    YESTERDAY:

    Light snowfall in the valley Friday morning December 9, 2016.

    A few breaks in the morning.

    Power Flurry in the morning. Avalanche awareness tours will be starting soon!!

    Snow making lower Dave Murray.

    A happy top to bottom kind of guy!

    Still pumping out the snow with slightly warmer temperatures.

    Snowing 1.5 cm per hour in the valley Friday evening before 24:00 Hrs.



Weather Observations for December 10, 2016,: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters  -11, Winds were 25-35 KPH S       --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters  -11, Winds were 25-35 KPH SSW --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -9, Winds were 10-20 KPH SE    --Rendevous
1835 meters    -9, Winds were   5-15  KPH SSW--Roundhouse
1650 meters    -6,   9 cm of new snow, 13 cm in 24 hrs, 159 cm Base, RH 97%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -7, 10 cm of new snow, 13 cm in 24 hrs, 112 cm Base  RH 96%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters    -9, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -8.2. 0.8 mm of Precip recorded yest

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

FORECAST:

The low finally penetrated the high with some awesome dry snow deposited to the valley. The perfect snow storm, cold temperatures and light snowfall. For today we will see light snowfall with the FL below the valley in a Westerly flow aloft. The low level flow will be Southerly.  Sunday will also see some very light flurries with the Arctic high pushing back into the area Sunday night. Dry Northerly flow aloft for most of next week, with cold temperatures on Monday.

Guesstimates: 8-12 cm by Sunday morning, 1-3 cm by Monday morning.

    Goes IR image from this am.

    500 Mb flow for Saturday into Sunday.

    Some light snow with a possible break for today.

    More cloud on Sunday.

    Cold for Monday.


ARTICLES:

How much fresh snow? : The Discussion about centimetres.

5 Tips to Stay Alive: Avalanche Safety

Climate change likely caused deadly 2016 avalanche in Tibet: Ohio State University

Skier triggered slide in the Vail area--You Tube: Colorado

Vail Snow Daze: Dec 9-11, 2016




    OBSERVATIONS:

   There was some interesting Stratugi formations in the Alpine yesterday.

    Nice turns down West Cirque, Gods Grooming with 4 cm of fresh.

    A festive crew!!

    Friday afternoon.

    Snow making cloud in Creekside.