March 30, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Natural cornice release in Blackcomb Bowl creates Sz 2 avalanche March 28, 2017. Story below.

   Avalanche control on WB yesterday produced Sz 1-2.5 ssl Xe, Xl, Xc, Sc.



YESTERDAY:

    Early Wednesday morning-snowing-march 29, 2017.

   Breaks for a brief time in the morning.

    Another day of awesome snow conditions in the alpine.

    A light in the mist!!

    Wednesday Morning. Cool clouds to the Northwest.

    March 29Th at 1700 meters in the am was looking like winter.

    Tree's were great until it warmed up in the late morning.

    Big picture Wednesday afternoon.

    8 cm of new snow at 1550 meters from 06:00 hrs to 14:00 Hrs yesterday.

    Snowing at the end of the day.

    A different perspective.


Weather Observations for March 30, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -8, Winds were 10-20 KPH SW    --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters      -8, Winds were 15-25 KPH NW    --Whistler Peak
1860 meters      -7, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE     --Rendevous
1835 meters      -6, Winds were   5-10 KPH WSW--Roundhouse
1650 meters      -6, 9 cm of new snow, 16 cm in 24 hrs, 349 cm Base, RH 94%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters      -5, 7 cm of new snow, 14 cm in 24 hrs, 240 cm Base, RH 94 %  --Catskinner 

  660 meters     +1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.3, 20.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.


FORECAST:

An upper through in a Northwesterly flow aloft will eventually drift Eastward with some unsettled weather expected  this morning. The FL will hover in the 1400 meter range with a slight drop to near surface by tonight. A weak high pressure will build  Thursday morning into Friday morning, before a very weak frontal band moves through on Friday night with FL rising to 1600 meters. Saturday is also looking moist and overcast with warmer temperatures. Sunday at this time is looking overcast but dry with the FL maxing out at 1400 meters. Monday and Tuesday are looking unsettled.
Guesstimates: 0 cm by Friday morning, 4-6 cm by Saturday morning, 4-6 cm by Sunday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Early Thursday morning will be cloudy.

    Unsettled by the afternoon.

    Friday morning is also looking unswttled

    Weak front for Saturday.

    Lingering trough for Sunday.

    Unsettled for Monday.


INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

       Nicholas Moede image from Natural cornice release causing Sz 2 avalanche on Tuesday.

    8 cm of new snow between 06:00 Hrs and 14:00Hrs yesterday

    Natural snow all month has left snow guns quiet.

    Mature forests are very cool.

    Green House in the morning briefly.

    There were many power flurries during the day.


ARTICLES

Avalanche reported in bounds on Blackcomb Mountain: CTV News

Managing valley bottom run out Risk: Avalanche Canada

Backcountry enthusiasts can't count on a fast rescue: Info News.ca

More information on the snowmobiler avalanche involvement near Terrace: Mountain Sledder

School offical admits lapse in judgement over avalanche deaths: Japan