March 18, 2017

   AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in Austria has killed two skiers. Story in article section.                           Net Pic

    Locally, Nc Sr size 1-1.5   Xe Sz 1-1.5 soft slabs yesterday.



   YESTERDAY:

    Early Friday morning, March 17, 2017. Snowline just above valley floor.

    A few breaks way off to the North.

    Overcast with a front way to the South.

    Friday morning.

    Junior Free ride comp on the Bite.

    Big picture Friday afternoon.

    Flurries in the afternoon.

    Multiple cloud layers.

    06:00 Hrs this am, it was a good night!!!


Weather Observations for March 16, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -3, Winds were 30-50 KPH S     --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters      -3, Winds were 40-55 KPH S     --Whistler Peak
1860 meters      -2, Winds were 25-45 KPH S     --Rendevous
1835 meters      -2, Winds were 15-25 KPH ESE--Roundhouse
1650 meters      -2, 25 cm of new snow, 25 cm in 24 hrs, 323 cm Base, RH 95%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters      -1, 25 cm of new snow, 25 cm in 24 hrs, 241 cm Base, RH 98 %  --Catskinner 

  660 meters       0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +5.2, 2.8 mm of Precip recorded yest

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

FORECAST:

The strong low and associated cold front were very nice to us last night. We can expect periods of light snow for this morning in a Southwest flow aloft. The FL may bump up to 800 meters but we should see It drop to the valley again this evening. If the low exits quickly, we may see some influence from the weak high pressure by this afternoon.  A weak ridge of high pressure will bring unsettled conditions to the area on Sunday, a mix of sun and cloud with the FL possibly rising to 900 meters. The ridge breaks down by Monday afternoon with another weak front moving onshore. A series of seasonable frontal waves will bring more snow to the area next week, with periods of dry unsettled weather.
Guesstimates: 5-10 cm by Sunday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Low will move Eastward with light snow for most of the day.

    Weak high pressure for Sunday.

    By Monday we will see another weak front by the afternoon.



OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Cornices continue to grow.

    Snow was skiing well on Friday.

    Rimed icicles.

    Thin cloud layer again on Friday.

    Considerable? on Friday, today will be high.



ARTICLES:

Two more skiers succumb to an avalanche in the Austrian Alps: St Anton

400 sheep & 21 cows buried in an avalanche in Tuva: Russia

Extreme Avalanche Hazard west of Calgary: Avalanche Canada

Sledders not getting training they need, says group: Rocky Mountain Goat

"They were rock stars" says avalanche victim: Washington State

Skier uses tree to arrest from avalanche: Slovakia

Italian skier dies in Arctic Avalanche: Norway