March 23, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in the Spanish Pyrenees has killed 2 researchers. Story in article section. Net Pic

    A ski tourer has been killed by an avalanche on Tete de Vautisse, France. Story below.

    An avalanche has killed 3 mountaineers on Konigsspitze Mtn., Italy. Story below.   Net Pic

    Locally, AC produced mostly Sz 1 Sc Xe. A few Sz 1.5 Sc Xe.


    YESTERDAY:

    Moist in the valley Thursday morning.

    Snowing at 1000 meters, eventually the snow line dropped to the valley.

    Looking into the valley early Thursday morning.

    Fresh soft cord on some runs.

    Snowing 3 cm per hour for a while in the am.

    Snowing in the valley later in the day.

    Convective flurries at 18:00 Hrs.

    Breaks by 18:30 hrs.

    Just before sunset which was at 19:27 Hrs.

    Thursday afternoon.

    Big picture Thursday.




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

2180 meters   -11, Winds were 50-70 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -9, Winds were 20-40 KPH S --Roundhouse
1660 meters     -7, 8 cm of new, 24 cm in 24 hrs  Base 313 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.6, 9.2 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have overcast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing 1 cm per hr.



FORECAST:

The large closed low off the Northwest coast will bring mostly cloudy weather to the area today in a Southwesterly flow aloft. We can expect convective activity today with periods of moderate snowfall with hail possible at times as well. The freezing level will remain at or just above surface. The low will slip South tonight bringing dry unsettled weather to the area Saturday with the FL topping out at 1000 meters with day time heating. Sunday is looking cloudier, with some breaks in the morning but scattered flurries in the afternoon. Groundhog day for Monday, with some breaks in the morning but mostly cloudy with flurries in the afternoon/evening.
Guesstimates: 10-20 cm by Saturday morning, 1-2 cm by Sunday morning, 3-5 cm by Monday morning, 2-4 cm by Tuesday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

        Cold upper low off the coast, -7 at 1650 meters. (850 mb is about 1500 meters)

   Convective clouds may bring more snow than just flurries, always difficult to estimate.

    Low moves South tonight.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Unsettled weather for Saturday.

    Saturday is looking fairly dry.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Nice to see the snow in the trees!!

    Moist snow below 1500 meters Thursday morning.

    Conditions improved as the day progressed.

    14 cm recorded at Catskinner weather plot by 14:30 Hrs.

    Catskinner weather plot is at 1550 meters. 14 cm recorded there, 16 cm recorded at Pig Alley.

    Thursday afternoon at 16:00 Hrs. Cold front--Exit stage Right.



VIDEO FRIDAY:

Avy Dog Lift Evacuation: Colorado

Cliff Huck: Richard Permin

Bad Behaviour: Spraying Skiers

Avalanche Search: Verbier



ARTICLES:

Avalanche kills two researchers in Catalonia's Aran Valley: Spain

A ski tourer has died in an avalanche near Puy St Vincent, France: Ecrins Mountains

An avalanche has killed 3 mountaineers on Gran Zebru Mtn: Italy

Canadian Women survives avalanche in the French Alps in which a German Skier was killed: CBC News

Kin of French avalanche victims crowdfund to cover "Rescue Costs": Switzerland

Six avalanche deaths in 2 weeks highlight need for safe backcountry travel: Washington State

Technology improves skier safety gear: Salt Lake City

Snowmobiler escapes avalanche with airbag: Montana