December 23, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

     Not much to report locally, still isolated pockets of windslab up to Sz1.

    An avalanche has killed a skier in Austria. Story in article section.                                  Net Pic

    An avalanche has killed a hiker in Italy. Story below.                                                         Net Pic



    YESTERDAY:

    Broken cloud in the morning.

    Cold temperatures and sunshine by late morning.

    Looking like winter.

    Dry cold snow.

    Clouds to the South later in the day.


Weather Observations for December 23, 2017 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters    -18, Winds were 20-50 KPH NNE--Whistler Peak
1835 meters    -16, Winds were 10-20 KPH NNW--Roundhouse
1660 meters    -15, 0 cm of new, 0 cm in 24 hrs  Base 158 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters    -13, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -2.1, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

-18 with a 30 KPH wind brings wind chill to -30.

    As of 07:30 hrs this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

Upper level ridge will bring sunny skies to the area today in a Northerly flow aloft. Cold temperatures this am slowly warming as the day progresses. A frontal system will move onshore early Sunday morning and the associated surface low will bring overcast skies and light snow. The weak front will depart on Monday with unsettled weather for Monday afternoon. Ridge rebuilds for Tuesday with mostly sunny skies. Models are inconsistent beyond Tuesday but looks unsettled for Wednesday with a weak front moving in on Thursday..
Guesstimates: 4-8 cm by Monday morning, trace to 2 cm by Tuesday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

      High wins out today with frigid temperatures.

    Saturday.

    Weak low for Sunday.

    Clouds moving in early Sunday morning.



    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Many areas in the Alpine that are wind affected.

    Man made crystals on the surface.

    Awesome Blue sky on Friday.

    Snow pack still shallow in some areas.

    Man made snow was riding well.

    Friday afternoon.

    Low split the high on Friday.

                    Pics from Toby Salin, recent trip to Mt Baker.

    From Mt. Baker 51” in 48 hr storm after it went cold & blue. Deepest most stable snow I have ever skied! Toby Salin


ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed a skier on Schurnik: Austria

An avalanche has killed a hiker on Pizzo Cefalone. Italy

Body of fifth soldier missing in avalanche recovered: Northern India

Considerable risk as more snow approaches the French Alps: Avalanche Report

Avalanche risk within 'Normal Bounds'  but snowpack concers remain: CBC News

Cascade Backcountry Alliance: Washington State