January 31, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in Iceland, on Esja Mtn has killed a hiker. Story in article section. Iceland Mag Pic

    Locally, avalanche control on WB yesterday produced some Sz 1 soft slabs with cornice control.



    YESTERDAY:

    First light Monday January 30, 2017.

    Cayley and Pyroclastic.  Official sunrise was at 07:48.

    High cloud in the morning.

    Monday morning.

    Big picture later in the day.

    High overcast for most of the day.

    Brighter to the Northwest.


Weather Observations for January 31, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -16, Winds were 30-50 KPH NE    --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -13, Winds were 15-30 KPH WNW--Whistler Peak
1860 meters   -13, Winds were 10-15 KPH E       --Rendevous
1835 meters   -14, Winds were   5-10 KPH NE    --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -13, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 208 cm Base, RH 76%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -11, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 140 cm Base, RH 58%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters   -11, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +2.4, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

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


FORECAST:

High pressure over the interior of BC will bring clear cold conditions to the area today in a Northwesterly flow aloft. Offshore flow will continue Wednesday and Thursday with scattered cloud for Wednesday and clear skies for Thursday. The rex block will break down Thursday allowing an active low pressure system in a Southwesterly to bring several frontal bands to the area with stormy winter weather Friday into early next week.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    High pressure for today.

   Northwesterly flow for a couple of days.

    High pressure for Wednesday as well, may see some cloud spill into the area.

OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Phelix Creek                                                                                                      Kvin Tiley Imag

Kvin Tlley January 29 at 9:31pm
Phelix creek update: Friday showed widespread surface hoar on all aspects and elevations. Saturday and Sunday's wind formed significant windslabs on east and south-facing aspects which were highly reactive. Several small size 1 natural and skier triggered slides were seen on saturday afternoon and sunday morning. Significant snow was falling on these surfaces by Sunday afternoon so head's up out there for the next little while. Skiing was great though.

    Cloud moved into the area quickly Monday morning.

    High thin overcast by mid morning.

    Groomers have been doing an amazing job keeping the cord just right.

    Fallers Rock and Fallers Pillow-That's right fall off the rock and land in the snow pillow!!

    Snow quality in the alpine chutes is still good.


ARTICLES:

Hiker dies in avalanche on Esja Mountain: Iceland

Death toll of soldiers killed by avalanches rises to 20: Kashmir

Avalanches kill at least seven in Tajikistan: 40 Avalanches

Amid record snowfall a tragedy for Avalanche Patrol: Squaw Valley

Towards better forecasts of slab avalanches: PhysOrg