March 10, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche has killed a ski tourer in Switzerland. Story in article section.      Kapo Willis Image

    Two skiers missing after avalanche near Areches-Beaufort, France. Story below.           Net Pic

    For the brief time the sun did come out there was some pinwheeling.

    Locally, Na Sz 1-2; Sa Sz 1-2; Xc Sz 1-2; Xe Sz 1-2: Sc Sz 1-2.

    Several Sa (Skier accidental) reported yesterday Sz 1-2.



    YESTERDAY:

    Unsettled Friday morning.

    At times the cloud rolled in.

    Sun tried to peak through the cloud.

   There were some awesome holes yesterday.

    Mount Currie just before dusk.

    Some colour before sunset which was at 18:06. Do not forget to set clocks forward tonight.

    Friday afternoon.

    Big picture Friday afternoon.


Weather Observations for March 10, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters     -6, Winds were 0-5 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -6, Winds were 0-5 KPH S --Roundhouse
1660 meters   -10, Trace of new, trace in 24 hrs  Base 303 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -6, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +4.6, 0.7 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.



FORECAST:

High pressure aloft and at the surface will bring sunny skies for today in a Southerly flow aloft. The freezing level will go up to as high as 1500 meters by the afternoon with day time heating. The high strengthens for Sunday with the FL rising to 1800 meters and mostly sunny skies. Sunny on Monday morning, with a mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon, with the FL rising to 2400 meters. A front will bring warm wet conditions for Tuesday. Cooling trend as it passes through.
Guesstimates: no new snow until Tuesday. 8-12 cm by Wednesday morning above 1500 meters.

    GOES IR image from this am.

     High pressure for today.

    High will bring sunny skies.

    Sunny.

    Fronts along the coast.

    May see some cloud spill in from the trough later in Sunday am.

    Clear after some cloud pushes through Sunday night.



    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Various settled layers in the snowpack.

    Nice light at times yesterday but mostly overcast.

    Snow was nice!!

    Old fracture line from wide spread activity last week.

    Glide cracks.


Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Reports:

Stadium Glacier

Cayoosh Pass


From South Coast Touring:

	Rob Shackell March 9 at 5:12pm
Skied Heart Strings above Joffre lakes today snow quality varied through the run. Top was wind scoured, middle produced small sluffs, bottom was starting to slab up. Best snow quality was between 1600-1900m. Did a few column tests along the way here are the results.  1680m NE facing 37deg slope sheltered TL area below cliffs 12pm.  CTH 22 SC down 50 on 180222MFcr  CTH 30 SC down 50 on 180222MFcr  1920M NE facing 37deg slope sheltered ALP 130pm  CTH 28 SP down 90 on 180222MFcr  CTH 30 SP down 90 on 180222MFcr

ARTICLES:

Avalanche kills ski tourer near Vionnoz in Valais: Switzerland

Two skiers missing after an avalanche near Areches-Beaufort: France

Avalanche Risk: the prefecture calls for vigilance: France

Insight into metastability and avalanche dynamics: Science Daily

How to be avalanche ready this year: Tahoe

Backcountry avalanche risks & safety tips: B.C. Gov News

An avalanche season for the ages: Wyoming