March 9, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Recent avalanche in Scotland, story in article section.                                             SAIS Image

    Locally, no new avalanche activity observed.


    YESTERDAY:

    Morning had decent visibility, but that changed as the day progressed.

    Challenging visibility mid mountain down Thursday afternoon.

    Fresh snow in the alpine but challenging visibility.

    Sun tried to come out occasionally.

    Below layer later in the day.

    Snowing in the alpine, snow transitioned to rain in the valley.

    Thursday afternoon.

    Big picture on Thursday.


Weather Observations for March 9, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters   -11, Winds were 25-40 KPH WSW--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -9, Winds were 15-30 KPH SW    --Roundhouse
1660 meters     -7, 8 cm of new, 10 cm in 24 hrs  Base 305 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +2.5, 4.0 mm of precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

An upper level trough is exiting our zone in a Northwest flow aloft bringing unsettled conditions for the am. High pressure both at the surface and aloft will build later this am in a Westerly flow aloft. The freezing level will likely reach 1000 meters this afternoon with daytime heating, dropping below surface tonight. Saturday is looking mostly sunny with the FL rising to around 1300 meters during the day. Upper level ridging brings mostly sunny skies to the area on Sunday with some cloud development in the afternoon. Warm temperatures and a FL rising to 2400 meters on Sunday. A weak upper level trough may push through on Monday with unsettled weather and warm temperatures. A warm front is expected for Tuesday. More on that as we get closer.
Guesstimates: No new snow until Tuesday.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    High pressure begins to build.

    Unsettled Friday morning.

    Fewer clouds in the afternoon.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Ridge strengthens for Saturday.

    Mostly Sunny Saturday afternoon.


INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Periods of snow throughout the day.

    2 cm recorded yesterday by 14:30 hrs at 1550 meters. Base of 227 cm.

    A tongue?

    Snow on skis turned to a slurry just after noon in the valley.

    Warm vent holes on Pakalolo.



VIDEO FRIDAY:


Man rescued from avalanche: Squaw Valley

Different perspective from above video: Squaw Valley

Speed Riding: Mount Blanc

Snowboarder kicks out avalanche: Tignes, France

Lucky, avalanche near Tetnaldi Ski Resort: Romania

Snowmobiler caught in avalanche: Utah

Large Skier Released avalanche: Gulmarg, Kashmir

Kessler Peak Avalanche: Utah


ARTICLES:

Big snows and a rash of deaths in avalanches and in treewells: Pique

Public warned to expect series of avalanches in Wicklow Mountains: Ireland

Alps snowboarder is caught in an avalanche but survives after activating airbag: France

Scottish Avalanche Information Service--Clear & Cold: Recent Sz 3

The case for taking an avalanche course: Transworld Snowboarding

Coquihalla still closed: Avalanche Debris