February 17, 2018

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Russian skier killed in avalanche did not heed warning by Gulmarg Ski Patrol. Article below.

    The snowmobiler injured on Feb 9th slide near Golden has died in Calgary Hospital. Info below. 

    Fracture line from above incident.

    Locally, Several Sz 1 soft slabs 30-50 cm on Ne steep slopes.

    Loose dry avalanches on the Duffey yesterday.                                                 Allister Collis Image



    YESTERDAY:

    08:00 Hrs Friday morning. Snowing lightly, -7 Deg C winds out of the S at 20-30 KPH.

    By 10:00 hrs some blue to the North.

    By 11:00 Hrs the sun was coming out.

    Breaks in the afternoon.

    Convective clouds formed in the afternoon with flurries then snow.

    Big convective clouds.

    Snowing to the valley later in the day. Almost 2 cm per hour at this time.

    Friday afternoon.

    Big picture Friday afternoon.


Weather Observations for February 17, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters     -8, Winds were 60-75 KPH SE--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -7, Winds were 10-35 KPH SE --Roundhouse
1660 meters     -5, 6 cm of new, 7 cm in 24 hrs  Base 288 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.2, 1.7 mm of precip recorded yest

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



FORECAST:

A deepening cold upper level low may bring some decent snowfall today in a Northwest flow aloft, switching to Southwesterly tonight. The FL will hover in the 600 meter range with moderate snowfall expected for most of the day, easing by this evening. A high pressure aloft will bring sunny skies for Sunday in a Northerly flow aloft. Monday and Tuesday are looking sunny with cold temperatures. A weak upper level low is forecasted to drop into the area for Wednesday, bringing unsettled weather with some snow flurries.
Guesstimates:15-25 cm depending on how the low tracks. Dry until some flurries on Wednesday.

    GOES IR image from this am.

     Deepening low will move over the area today.

    Low moves down the coast. Warm front with trailing cold front.

    Cold front will pass later this afternoon.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Arctic front will bring cold clear weather for Sunday.

    Sunday afternoon.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Some breaks by 10:00 Hrs. -6 with 20-40 KPH winds out of the SW.

    By 11:00 Hrs the weather was changing.

    This image from the same time frame as above image. Next front moving down the coast.

    Awesome breaks in the afternoon.

    Fresh Tracks.

    Clouds moved in later in the day.

    Snowing at Catskinner weather plot at 14:30 Hrs. 1 cm recorded yesterday from 06:30-14:30 hrs.

    Snow to the valley.

    Finding out where you are at!!

    Image from the Spearhead on Friday.                                                                   Toby Salin Image

    Loose dry avalanches on the Duffey, North aspects.                                          Allister Collis Image

Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Report:

Steep Creek


ARTICLES:

Man caught in avalanche near Golden B.C. 0n Feb 9th, dies in Calgary Hospital: CBC News

Russian skier paid no heed to avalanche warning: Kashmir

Exploring the backcountry, then be prepared!!: Nelson Daily

Avalanche conditions dangerous around Vail, Summit County, and the Front Range Mtns: Colorado

Backcountry Avalanche Awareness Workshop for Free-Pebble Creek Ski Patrol: Idaho