March 30, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche kills a ski tourer on Zackengrat in Valais, Switzerland. Story below.           Net Pic

    An avalanche kills a climber on Mrzla Gora in Solcava, Slovenia.                                        Net Pic

                  Avalanche photo submitted by Australo Piteque from Brandywine area.

    A Sz 3 Sy avalanche in North Creek has killed a guide near Pemberton. Articles below.

    Locally, no new avalanches observed yesterday.



    YESTERDAY:

    Early Thursday morning at 1000 meters.

    Breaking out of the mid mountain cloud layer.

    Just above the tree line.

    A few breaks in the valley.

    Multiple layers!!

    Valley clouds did lift as well!!

    Nice snow on some aspects.

    Clouds did make for an interesting day.

    Good visibility close to the rocks.

    Thursday Afternoon.

    Big Picture Thursday afternoon.


Weather Observations for March 30, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters     -6, Winds were 45-65 KPH SW--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -3, Winds were 25-55 KPH SW --Roundhouse
1660 meters     -1, trace of new, trace in 24 hrs  Base 299 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters    +3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +5.8, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

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



FORECAST:

A weak frontal band is slowly exiting to the East in a Northwesterly flow aloft. Mostly overcast skies this am will slowly transition to broken cloud by this afternoon with some sunny breaks. The FL will rise to 1700 meters today and drop back down to 1000 meters by tonight. A weak upper trough will push through Saturday morning for mostly overcast conditions but the air mass is fairly dry with just some intermittent precipitation. The FL will be at around 1600 meters and drop to 900 meters Saturday night with some temporary breaks. A colder upper level trough will push through on Sunday with the FL dropping to 900 meters during the day, then to surface in the evening. The front will exit sometime Monday morning with unsettled weather expected for Monday afternoon into Tuesday. A more active front is forecasted to arrive on Wednesday.

Guesstimates: Trace-1 cm by Saturday morning, trace-1 cm by Sunday morning, 5-15 cm by Monday morning (more on this as we get closer), 2-6 cm by Tuesday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Low is moving East, Warm dirty ridge just South. Warming trend.

    Some breaks this am.

    Unsettled this afternoon.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Weak frontal band Saturday morning.

     Possible breaks Saturday night.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Good visibility in the alpine Thursday morning.

    Not much traffic in the backcounry!

    Visibility was challenging at times.

    Amazing where cornices can grow!!

    Very thin crust at treeline Southwest facing.

    We do have some awesome rock formations!!

    There is always good snow somewhere.


Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Report:

Vantge Ridge

Peak West of Tremor



From South Coast Touring:

Yvan Gaston Sabourin March 29 at 10:00pm

If you have the opportunity this is a good time to dig and gather some personal information regarding snowpack . In many places you’ll find a weak crust and 5cm’s below is a SH layer. Test are still easy to moderate. On Northerly aspects. This is a good time to be conservative in our mountain range.

VIDEO FRIDAY:

Wet Snow avalanche buries cars: Russia

Different perspective of the above: Mt Elbrus

2017/2018 Avalanches caught on Camera: You Tube

Hard Slam: Jerry of the Day

Ski Longer, Harder: ROAM



ARTICLES:

Avalanche kills climber on Mrzla Gora in Solcava: Slovenia

Avalanche kills Ski tourer on Zackengrat in Valais: Switzerland

Warning about backcountry safety after skier dies in avalanche near Pemberton: 11:30 News

Heli-Ski Guide dies in a tragic avalanche accident: Pemberton

What is the risk in the Alps these days: Avalanche Report

NASA Visualises the dance of a melting snowflake: Science Daily

Icefields parkway shutting down for Avalanche Work: March 29-31, 2018

Family cancel vacation after receiving photo of cornice above their vacation property: Norway