January 9, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in the Gemsstock area of Switzerland has claimed an off piste skier, story below.

    An avalanche in the Ovrannaz area of Switzerland has claimed a life, story below. Net Pic

    No avalanche activity reported locally.



    YESTERDAY:

    Some cloud early Sunday January 8, 2017.

    Very heavy tree bomb.

    Front slowly approached Whistler.

    Very light snowfall at 13:30 Hrs in the alpine.

    Mogul Training.

    Snowing 1 cm per hour by 20:00 Hrs Sunday night.

   Satellite image Sunday morning.

    Looking North just as the front moved in.

    By 13:00 Hrs the snow flurries were close.

    Route Training.



WEATHER OBSERVATIONS:

Weather Observations for January 9, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -9, Winds were 25-60 KPH S   --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -8, Winds were 40-60 KPH S   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters   -7, Winds were 25-45 KPH SE --Rendevous
1835 meters   -6, Winds were 20-35 KPH SE --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -5, 15 cm of new snow, 15 cm in 24 hrs, 193 cm Base, RH 97%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -5, 12 cm of new snow, 12 cm in 24 hrs, 112 cm Base, RH 98%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters   -7, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -4.6, 2.6 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs we have overcast skies limitedvisibility and it is snowing 1 cm per hr.


FORECAST:

Continued overcast conditions with light snowfall for today in a Southwest Flow. The snow will ease off later in the day with unsettled conditions tonight. The cold arctic high will bring clear skies for Tuesday into Thursday with a Northerly flow. A low pressure system will bring unsettled weather for Friday with moderating temperatures. By Saturday we will see a weak frontal band bring more snow to the area. Outflow winds for Tuesday-Thursday, bundle up. Guesstimates: 5-10 cm by Tuesday morning.

    Still the chance of some accumulation today.

   Precipitation until at least Monday night.

    Looking dry for Tuesday.

    Cold Arctic High easily pushes the low Southward.

    Dry and cold for Wednesday.

    Looking like a clear day for Thursday.




ARTICLES:

Two separate avalanches kill 2 in Swiss Alps: Switzerland

Individual articles below:

Skier killed in an avalanche in Tita Seri in Vallis: Switzerland

Avalanche kills off piste skier at Gemsstock: Switzerland

Spearhead Hut Project: Funding Opportunities

California braces for Flooding & Avalanches as Sierra gets slammed with snow & rain: Lake Tahoe

Avalanche risk could rise in Central Oregon: Wet on Dry




OBSERVATIONS:

Martin Carnogursky January 8 at 7:56pm

Windy day on Fissile today. The bootpack is stripped down to scree with a few snow patches. There was about 5cm of wind loaded snow in Banana Chute on top of a firm crust. Sluff didn't run very far but it could become dicey with more new snow.     Some cool clouds on Sunday.     Front slowly took over Sunday afternoon.     Enjoying some great off piste skiing.     Steeps were busy on Sunday. Snow was smooth and grippe.     Front was heading our way in the morning.