January 2, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in Switzerland has killed a snowshoer: story in article section.              Net Pic

    If you are caught skiing in a permanently closed area you loose mountain access for 1 year.

    Wet loose snow releases on solar aspects.

    Last storm produced many wind slabs.

    YESTERDAY:

    High cirrus early Monday morning.

    Mix of sun & cloud most of the day, but mostly sunny.

    Sun going down.

    After sunset.


Weather Observations for January 2, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters    +1, Winds were 20-30 KPH E  --Whistler Peak
1835 meters    +4, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE--Roundhouse
1660 meters     -1, 0 cm of new, 0 cm in 24 hrs  Base 183 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters   -12, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -5.4, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 06:30 hrs this am we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

The upper ridge will bring unsettled conditions today as it weakens with an Easterly low level flow. The freezing level will top out at around 2400 meters. Wednesday is looking mostly sunny. Thursday will usher in a weak warm upper level trough which will bring mostly cloudy skies into Friday. Models are inconsistent as we approach the weekend but looks like we may see unsettled weather for Saturday & Sunday.
Guesstimates: trace-2cm above 1660 meters by Friday morning, 4-8 cm by Saturday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

     Warm again today with inverted temperatures.

    Unsettled.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Mild temperatures again on Wednesday.




   INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Still cold temperatures in the valley.

    Point releases on solar aspects.

    Man made snow.

    Just before sunset. Sunrise yesterday was at 08:11 Hrs & Sunset was at 16:20 Hrs.

    Yesterday afternoon.

    Super moon last night.


Recent reports from Avalanche Canada MIN Network:

Chief Pascal Shoulder

Sky Pilot



ARTICLES:

A snowshoer has been killed by an avalanche in Kandersteg: Switzerland

Update on Wyoming avalanche: Salt River Range

Richardson Hwy closed due to avalanche: Valdez, AK

Whitefish Mountain issues statement after snowboarders death: Montana

Full Moon January 1, 2018: Full Wolf Moon