January 25, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    A Sz 1 slough on Fissile took a skier through the rock band yesterday, he sustained some injuries.

    An avalanche killed 3 commuters in Afghanistan, story in article section.                       Net Pic

    Close call yesterday in the Rutherford, cornice broke off on the upper left side of the photo while a     skier was walking around the back side. Looks like it stepped down 1 meter plus.

   

    Avalnche control on WB yesterday--cornice trimming Sz 1-2.5 --watch for debris in the bowls.


    YESTERDAY:

    A very colourful sunrise Tuesday, January 24, 2017.

    Cloud to the Southwest but bluebird for most of the day.

    Lots of people heading into the backcountry.

    Good turns to be had!!

    Clouds moved into the area in the afternoon.

    09:15 Tuesday morning.

    Awesome sky at days end.

    Sunset was officially at 16:52.


Weather Observations for January 25, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -8, Winds were 10-15 KPH SE    --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -8, Winds were 10-15 KPH SSW --Whistler Peak
1860 meters   -7, Winds were   5-10 KPH SSW--Rendevous
1835 meters   -6, Winds were     0-5 KPH SE   --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -6, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 220 cm Base, RH 95%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -6 ,0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 143 cm Base, RH 94%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters   -3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +1.7, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility.



FORECAST:

The ridge of high pressure will continue to dominate the weather pattern with a mix of sun and cloud in a Southeast flow.Today we will see mostly overcast conditions but there is a chance of some breaks.  The FL today will rise to about 800 meters, dropping back to surface this evening. Thursday will be unsettled and slightly warmer with the FL rising to around 1000 m. Friday morning at this time looks to be overcast as a weak impulse of moisture moves through with isolated flurries in the morning, improving to unsettled by the afternoon. Models are not consistent past Thursday so stand by. Saturday is looking unsettled before a frontal band arrives for Sunday with some more snow. Snow conditions at this time are very good. Enjoy the day.

   GOES IR image from this am.

    Unsettled with some cloud moving through the zone.

   May see some overcast Friday morning.

    A frontal band is expected to push through on Sunday.



   OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Lots of folk out in the Fissile Area.

   Surface hoar development on the Sastrugi.

    Southwest aspect at certain elevations has a brittle crust with surface hoar growing on it.

   The surface hoar has been doubling in size each day, since the arrival of the high pressure.

   There are tracks pretty much every where out in the backcountry.



ARTICLES:

Death Toll from Italian Avalanche reaches 15: Hotel Rigopiano

An avalanche has killed 3 commuters on Salang Highway: Afghanistan

5 people buried alive in  snow avalanches in Jammu: Northern India

Ski Patroller dies during avalanche control activities: Squaw Valley

Italy Premier admits delays in avalanche response: Penne, Italy