February 18, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche on Ralph's Slide in the Jackson Hole Backcountry has killed a Utah man.  Net Pic

    An avalanche has killed 2 mountaineers on Grignetta in Lecco, Italy. Info below.      Net Pic

    An avalanche on Pirin Mountain has claimed a mountaineer.  Story below.                   Net Pic

    Information on avalanches in Utah, Persistent Slab.

    Locally, AC produced mostly Sz 1 soft slabs Xe Sc. A few Sz 2 storm slabs as well. Sz 1-2 Na.


    YESTERDAY:

    Snowing and blowing yesterday morning.

    Dumping in the valley Saturday morning.

    Snow conditions were awesome yesterday.

    Tree skiing was off the wall.

    Creekside.

    Very few people were skiing to the valley.

    Snowing hard in the valley.

    Saturday afternoon.

    Big picture Saturday afternoon.


Weather Observations for February 18, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters   -22, Winds were 40-80 KPH NW--Whistler Peak
1835 meters   -19, Winds were 30-40 KPH NNW --Roundhouse
1660 meters   -18, 2 cm of new, 27 cm in 24 hrs  Base 308 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -8, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +1.0, 18.9 mm of precip recorded yest

-22 with a 60 KPH wind brings the wind chill factor to -39. Dress warm if going to the alpine.
-19 with a 30 KPH wind brings the wind chill factor to -31. Dress warm if going to treeline.

Winds at 2180 meters were as high as 100 KPH last night.

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

FORECAST:

An upper level trough will bring unsettled weather this am before we get some clearing with cold temperatures in a Northerly flow aloft. Clear cold conditions will prevail until Wednesday when a weak short wave trough will push through. Cold outflow winds for the next few days, dress warm!!
Guesstimates: 4-6 cm by Thursday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am. Cloudy this am, clearing this pm.

     Cold air from the Arctic front.

    Some flurries possible for this am.

    Winds may ease up later today.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Cold & clear Monday.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Nester's Weather Station at 660 meters yesterday morning. 18.9 mm recorded there yesterday.

    Catskinner weather plot, 1550 meters yesterday afternoon. 25 cm from 06:30-14:30 hrs.

    Pig Alley 1650 meters received 25 cm yesterday. base was at 313 cm.

    Pig alley yesterday afternoon.

    Soft slabs early in the morning.

    A good sign to heed.

    Dumping yesterday afternoon.

    Saturday at around 17:00 hrs.

    Looking Northeast at the same time frame as above image.

                      Hanging Lake Area Yesterday.                                     JD Disney Image



Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Reports:

Whistler & Duffey Area

Hanging Lake

Vantage Ridge





ARTICLES:

Utah man dies in Side Country avalanche: Wyoming

Avalanche kills two Mountaineers on Grignetta in Lecco.: Italy

An avalanche has killed a mountaineer on Pirin Mountain: Bulgaria

Outdoor enthusiast urged to exercise caution in Avalanche Terrain: B.C. Minister of Public Safety

Avalanche Canada asking back country enthusiasts to err on the side of caution this weekend: Kamloops