February 1, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Numerous avalanches burying roads in Tajikistan, story in article section.                         Net Pic

    Evidence of an old Fx line with spindrift reloading the slope. No local activity observed yesterday.

    YESTERDAY:

    Tuesday morning, January 31, 2017.

    Snow guns pumping in the terrain park.

    Tuesday morning.

    Whistler Mountain Tuesday afternoon.

    Blackcomb later in the day.

    Alpen Glow Tuesday.

    Sunset was at 17:04.


Weather Observations for February 1, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -16, Winds were 25-50 KPH E    --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -16, Winds were 40-60 KPH NW--Whistler Peak
1860 meters   -15, Winds were 20-40 KPH E    --Rendevous
1835 meters   -16, Winds were 10-20 KPH SE --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -15, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 208 cm Base, RH 81%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -13, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 137 cm Base, RH 73%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters   -12, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -1.0, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

Wind chill factor at 2240 meters is -29 with a 40 KPH wind. Bundle UP!!!

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



FORECAST:

An upper level ridge in a dry Northwesterly flow aloft will bring sunny skies to the area today with some scattered cloud. Thursday is also looking clear and sunny with the temperatures moderating by the afternoon. Friday will see some cloud in the morning as a front makes its way on shore, in a Southwesterly flow aloft. We can expect snow Friday night into Monday with the FL remaining around the valley bottom. Difficult to put numbers to the snowfall but should get easier as we get closer. Model runs are presently inconsistent, stand by. Guesstimates: 15-20 cm by Saturday morning, 20-30 cm by Sunday morning, 30-60 cm by Monday morning.

    GOES IR Satellite Image for this am.

    Wednesday will likely have some scattered cloud.

   Looking dry and sunny for Thursday.

   Friday the front arrives in the evening.

    Saturday has the potential to be a storm riding day.

OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Wind affected snow.

    Some very cool Sastrugi.

    Blowing snow.

    Northwest Couloir on Wedge.



ARTICLES:

Avalanches bury highway connecting Dushanbe and Khujand: Tajikistan

Update on the avalanches in Iran: 9 killed

For slides "Moderate does not equal safe": Jackcon Hole

"Where God needed us to be"--An account of an avalanche rescue: Alaska

Conditions report-- January 31, 2017: Mountain Sledder

California is the snowiest place on Earth, now!!: Travel & Leisure