May 18, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Debris from an avalanche that was Heli bombed early May. Blackcomb Glacier Creek is open!

    Many trees were taken out. Yesterday there were no new avalanches observed locally.


    YESTERDAY:

    Early Thursday morning. Stratus layer was thick and up all the valleys.

    Northerly flow and high pushed low level stratus layer to the South.

    Looking Southwest still a stratus layer there.

    Valley cloud was gone by Noon.

    Eventually most of the cloud dissipated and it was clear to the South.

    Looking North early afternoon.

    Mid afternoon some large cumulus nimbus began developing to the North.

    Rain clouds were on the way. Lightning strikes to the Northeast.

    Rained for a brief while at around 16:00 Hrs, most of the energy was East of Whistler.

    Just before sunset. Most of the cloud was gone.

    By sunset the skies were almost clear.


Weather Observations for May 18, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    +5, Winds were 15-25 KPH N--Horstman Hut
1860 meters    +7, Winds were 15-25 KPH N--Rendevous
1550 meters    +8, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs  Base 135 cm --Catskinner

  660 meters    +6, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +23, 1.0 mm of precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs we have a few clouds with unlimited visibility.


FORECAST:

A weak upper level low to our South is being held off by the high but we will likely see some cloud this afternoon with the chance of some showers with convective cloud development. The Northerly flow aloft will shift to Easterly later in the day with the FL going to around 3200 meters. A weak upper trough will push in for Saturday with the risk of thunderstorms and rain. We may get lucky with unsettled weather depending on the track of the low and will of the high. Sunday is looking unsettled before the ridge rebuilds for Monday into Tuesday.
Guesstimates: trace-4 mm by Saturday morning, 4-8 mm by Sunday morning, 0-2 mm by Monday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am. Weak upper level low in Washington State.

    Low to the South will be battling with the high, we may be spared the low and rain.

    Awesome looking morning.

    We might see some rain later in the afternoon. We may not!!

    Fronts along the coast.

    Likely showers and cloud for Saturday morning.

   Possible thunderstorm on Saturday.

    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Top of the Solar was obliterated.

    Moraines have been weeping.

    Only way across the creek if you come down Blackcomb Glacier. Will be gone soon.

    Snow is melting at an unbelievable rate for mid May.

   Water water everywhere.

   GOES Image from this am, looks like some big clouds to our South.


From Mountain Conditions Report:

Blackcomb Backcountry


ARTICLES:

Recent ENSO Discussion: Neutral Conditions are Present

June outlook for the U.S.: Its going to be a warm one

CDOT triggers avalanches to open Independence Pass: Colorado

Hot weather could bring more flooding to hard hit B.C. communities: CBC News