4 Feb 2017

February 4, 2017



AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in Babakhshan, Afghanistan has killed 10 people, story in article section.   Net Pic

    Locally no new avalanches observed, surface sluffing to Sz 1 on steep lee terrain.




    YESTERDAY:

    Started to snow at 08:15 Hours Friday February 3, 2017.

    On an exceptional year you can ski up onto this rock.

    Snowing in the valley Saturday morning.

    Sun was visible at times through the thin cloud layer.

    Snow eased in the afternoon but picked up again in the evening.


    Big Picture Friday. How will the 2 lows meld?

    There was some fine skiing off piste and on.

    Overall another great day in the mountains.


Weather Observations for February 4, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -7, Winds were 30-40 KPH SE   --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters     -7, Winds were 35-45 KPH SE   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters   -13, Winds were   5-10 KPH NW   --Rendevous
1835 meters   -13, Winds were 10-20 KPH ENE--Roundhouse
1650 meters   -13, 21 cm of new snow, 28 cm in 24 hrs, 232 cm Base, RH 88%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -13, 17 cm of new snow, 24 cm in 24 hrs, 158 cm Base, RH 88%  --Catskinner 
  660 meters     -7, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -6.5, 3.7 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have obscured skies, limited visibility and it is snowing 1 cm per hour.



FORECAST:

A cold upper level low will bring light snow to the area today in a strong Southwest flow. The FL will remain below surface and we should see an increase in the snowfall by this evening. An upper trough will bring some light snow to the area Sunday morning but the Arctic high strengthens on Sunday pushing the low enough to bring some unsettled weather by Sunday afternoon. Cool unsettled weather will prevail early next week with the occasional flurry. As of now a warm front will move onto the coast Wednesday night with heavy snowfall into Thursday but with a rising FL. Looking like Thursday will be a storm day.
Guesstimates: 25-35 cm by Sunday morning, 2-6 cm by Monday morning?


    GOES IR image from this am.

    Looking like some decent precip amounts for today.

    Overcast and snow into Sunday.

    Unsettled conditions likely by Sunday afternoon.

    A mix of sun and cloud with cool weather for Monday.




OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

   Freestyle competition on Blackcomb Friday.

    Snowy but a great venue.

    By noon the snow was accumulating.

    Steeps were skiing well yesterday.

    Smooth conditions for most of the alpine terrain.

   Dry light snow to the valley.


ARTICLES:

10 killed by an avalanche in Badakhshan: Afghanistan

Avalanche kills 3, injures 2 in Tehran: Northern Iran

Backcountry User Instruction Course: Colorado

Moose buried in an avalanche: Alaska

As army battles avalanche deaths, a new system is needed to predict avalanches: India

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