February 9, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Snowboarder killed in an avalanche on Mittagskagel, Austria--Story in article section.    Net Pic

    Image of the above mentioned avalanche.                                                                            Net Pic

    Avalanche on the Trans Canada, no injuries.                                                         Parks Canada Pic

    Locally some Sz 1 Sa (skier accidental) reported, sloughing on steep terrain.


    YESTERDAY:

    Early Wednesday morning, February 8, 2017.

    Looking North, still some blue before the clouds roll in.

    Darker clouds as the front pushed in from the South.

    Snow conditions have been excellent.

    Wednesday morning.

    Light snow began to fall around noon.

    Snowing 1 cm an hour by 16:00 Hrs.




Weather Observations for February 8, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -3, Winds were 35-50 KPH SE--Horstman Hut 
2180 meters    -2, Winds were 40-60 KPH S  --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -1, Winds were 25-40 KPH SE--Rendevous
1835 meters    -1, Winds were 25-40 KPH SE--Roundhouse
1650 meters     0, 30 cm of new snow, 30 cm in 24 hrs, 268 cm Base, RH 96%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -4, 35 cm of new snow, 35 cm in 24 hrs, 203 cm Base, RH 98%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters  -10, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -8.7, 3.1 mm of Precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing 1 cm per hour.



FORECAST:

A strong warm front in a Southwesterly flow aloft will continue to bring heavy snow and moderate/strong winds to the area this morning. The FL could rise to 1500 meters but the storm so far has been relatively cold, would be amazing if we get dry snow to the valley.Still a chance of it rising to 1800 meters. A trailing cold front will push through later today with a decrease in snowfall. Friday will see the cold front move through with colder temperatures and light snow, the FL should remain below 1000 meters. An upper ridge begins to build for Saturday but the weather is expected to remain unsettled and the FL should drop back to the surface. Sunday will also be unsettled with a weak front pushing through in the afternoon. The ridge will strengthen for Monday but weaken on Tuesday. As of now another Pacific front will likely arrive for Wednesday of next week. Guesstimates: 35-45 cm by Friday morning, 10-15 cm by Saturday morning, 2-4 cm by Sunday morning.

   Heavy snowfall until later today when it should ease off. Cold front moves through later in the day.

    Plume of moisture will continue this am.

    Cold front will push through Friday with light snow and cooler temperatures.

    Unsettled Saturday with a mix of sun and cloud and the possibility of some isolated snow flurries.

 

   Unsettled Sunday with some periods of overcast skies.

   Mostly sunny for Monday as the upper ridge briefly strengthens.


   OBSERVATIONS &  INFORMATION:

   Bright for a while in the morning.

    Patches of blue in the am.

    Very cool colours in the morning with the approach of the front..

    Started snowing hard in the valley at around 19:00 Hrs.


ARTICLES

Snowboarder killed in an avalanche on Mittagskagel in Tyrol: Austria

Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely in Sea to Sky Region Thursday: Avalanche Canada

Trans-Canada Highway reopened after avalanche near BC-Alberta Border: Field, B.C.

Slide buries Berthoud pass under 20 Feet of snow: Colorado

Could Ski Resorts start using drones to stop avalanches: American Company

Interstate 90 closed at Snoqualmie Pass: Avalanche Danger