February 23, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche has killed a ski tourer in the Silvretta Alps, Switzerland. Story below.    Net Pic

    Yesterday, 1 Sz 1 loose dry observed, otherwise no new avalanches observed.

    Interesting loose dry release, not the one mentioned above.


    YESTERDAY:

    Early Thursday morning.

    08:30Hrs at 1835 meters yesterday morning it was -17 15-30 KPH from the NNE. Wind chill -29.

    Wedge Thursday morning.

    Variable snow conditions but some nice snow below tree line.

    Air Time.

    Blackcomb Mountain.

    Alpin glow Thursday evening.

    Thursday afternoon.

    Big picture Thursday afternoon.


Weather Observations for February 23, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters   -15, Winds were 25-45 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1835 meters   -11, Winds were 20-30 KPH S --Roundhouse
1660 meters   -11, trace of new, trace in 24 hrs  Base 289 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters   -11, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was 0.0, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies, variable visibility and its snowing lightly.


FORECAST:

A low sliding down the coast in a Northwesterly flow loft will bring overcast skies and light snowfall through the day. There is a good chance we could see an impulse of heavy snowfall tonight before the low slides South. The high has some influence Saturday morning with mostly sunny skies before cloud spills in for unsettled weather in the afternoon as a fast moving cool upper level trough pushes through with heavy snowfall Saturday night. Lingering flurries on Sunday with mostly unsettled weather. The cold and unsettled Northwest flow will continue into next week with periods of snow and the FL remaining at or slightly higher than surface.
Guesstimates: 10-25 cm by Saturday morning, 18-22 cm by Sunday morning, 2-4 cm by Monday morning, 4-8 cm by Tuesday morning.

If the cold front lines up over our zone tonight there is potential for heavy snow fall accumulations.

    GOES IR this am.

    Low, High, and Arctic Front could bring us a surprise tonight.

    Overcast and snow moving down the coast.

    Could get some snow out of this scenario.

    Fronts on the coast.

    Unsettled for Saturday.

    Mix of sun and cloud.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Some clouds appeared yesterday.

    Not a nice surface.

    There is nice snow out there if you look for it!!

    Exposed areas have been wind hammered.

    Whistler Mountain Thursday afternoon.

    There are some huge cornices in the local mountains.

    Old debris.


VIDEO FRIDAY:

Two rescue workers die in an avalanche: Italy

Toots to Boots Avalanche: Utah




ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed a German Ski Tourer in Silvretta Alps: Switzerland

Mother pushes for changes after husband dies in an avalanche: Idaho

Spatial and temporal analysis of fatal off-piste & backcountry avalanche accidents: EGU

How Anna Allen survived 5 days buried in an avalanche: Alpine Meadows