July 25, 2014

 

    Weather did not change until 16:00 Hrs on Monday; July 21, 2014.

   By 20:00 hrs it had turned into a nice evening.

    Dark clouds moved in quickly on Tuesday afternoon around 15:00 hrs, July 22, 2014.

    Looked ominous, but just some spotty light rain.

    Mostly cloudy Wednesday, nice wind Wednesday evening before rain started around 20:00 Hrs.

    Fresh snow in the alpine Thursday morning. -1 at 2180 meters, 0 at 1835 meters. July 24, 2014.

    Approximately 20 cm fell overnight.                                                              Adam Mercer Photo

 

    A relatively dry day on Thursday, lots of people enjoying the outdoors.                                                                                                                                                                                



Weather observations for July 25, 2014; taken at 07:00 Hrs this am.

2180 meters        +3, Winds were 15-20 KPH from the SSW
1835 meters        +4, Winds were 0-10 KPH from the SSW
1550 meters        +7, Relative Humidity 97.5%
  660 meters      +11, Valley Temperature, Max Temp yesterday + 14.4, 18.3 mm of Precip Yest
                                   9.9 mm of rain fell on Wednesday at Nesters Weather Station



For the forecast, unfortunately a moist westerly flow will keep the area mostly cloudy today with drizzle\light rain for the morning. Weak upper level ridging should bring sunny breaks by the afternoon. Saturday is looking unsettled with a mix of sun and cloud. A strong high pressure ridge south of our zone will bring warm and sunny conditions by Sunday and for most of next week. Still a significant low pressure to the North so only time will tell how it may affect our zone.

    As of 07:00 hrs we have cloudy conditions with variable to obscured skies at 1835 meters.

    Satellite image this am, July 25 Th at 07:00 Hrs.

    Too many lows close by.

    Hope the high to the South is strong enough to keep the low at bay later in the week.

    Began to rain lightly around 10:00 Hrs in Whistler on Wednesday morning, July 23, 2014.

    The big picture July 23. Did not really rain hard here until Wednesday evening after 20:00 Hrs.

    Still cloudy Thursday evening but there were some blue patches around.



Articles:

Understanding snow with a proactive tool for avalanche safety: AvaTech

Fernie Avalanche Industry Bursary Program: Fernietrails

Pieps DSP review: Outdoorgearlab

Dealing with bouncing avy beacons: Earnyourturns

Update on Avalanches in Switzerland: Valais Alps

Globe sizzles to record high temperatures: Globe and Mail

Preliminary Winter Weather Prediction: The Weather Centre

Parents of snowboarder killed by avalanche in Alaska sue heliskiing company: Haines, AK

BC Sar Summaries: July 14-20, 2014




Video Fridays:

Failed bike jump: OUCH!!!

How to wash your wing suit: Switzerland

Summer Skiing: Beerhat

Cyclist clipped by a pickup truck: LiveLeak

Riding the unrideable: Williams Lake , B.C.

Spat out by a sluff: Eric Pollard

    Sun beams over Soo Valley, Tuesday afternoon.

    North aspect of Ipsoot Glacier.

    Thursday morning July 24, 2014. 2240 meters !                                             Adam Mercer Photo  

    Grass was flattened from the deluge on Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.  

    Snow on Thursday made the Horstman Glacier look nicer.

July 21, 2014

    Looks like the end of August in the alpine, not much snow left.

    Cloudy and showers Sunday afternoon at 1860 meters, 14:30 hrs, Cool at +7. Drier in the valley.

    Bottom of Fitz Chair same time frame. +15 Looks like good conditions! July 20, 2014.

    Conditions on Horstman Glacier as of 08:00 Hrs this am. Cooler temperatures helping melt!

Weather observations for July 21, 2014; taken at 07:00 Hrs.

2180 meters        +4, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the S
1835 meters        +4, Winds were 0-5 KPH from the S
1550 meters        +7, Relative Humidity 97%
  660 meters      +12, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest +20
                                   July 20 1.7 mm recorded


For the forecast, unsettled for today with clearing later today into Tuesday. Air mass will dry out later today as the offshore flow weakens. Tuesday is looking mostly sunny prior to a deep upper level low moving in from the North for Wednesday into Thursday.  As of now it looks like Wednesday morning will be the wettest period. A weak upper ridge will begin to build Thursday afternoon into Friday bringing back sunnier skies and warmer temperatures for the weekend. Saturday as of now is looking warm and sunny.

    Satellite image from this am at 08:00 Hrs. May have to wait for some breaks!!

         Southwesterly flow today should bring some nice weather today into Tuesday.

    Air mass for Wednesday is looking wet.

    Deep upper low will be right over us for Wednesday.

    Satellite image from Saturday evening, unsettled and cooler.

    Image from Sunday morning.


Two Australians killed in an avalanche: South Australia

US Climber killed another injured in Andes avalanche: Nevado Priamide, Peru

Big Mountain Skiing, Surviving in Avalanche Country: NAC

Perisher and Thredbo's record-beating snow welcome despite risks: Australia

But avalanches don't happen in Australia: Geoff Mallinson

Four avalanche deaths in Switzerland: Deadly Weekend

    Recent adventure to Squally Channel. Many Eagles in this area.

    Heron fishing for sea cucumbers at low tide.

    First nations fishing boat. Hartley Bay.

July 16, 2014

    Glacier melt between Prince Rupert and Terrace with some nice warm temperatures.

    Slabs in this region with some very large avalanche paths. Blogging from downtown Terrace.

   Nice looking day in Whistler!!

    Bike park looks dry and not that busy this am.

    Amazing weather up North over the past 8 days.

    Still a lot of snow along the Coastal Mountains.



Weather observations for July 14, 2014; taken at 07:00 Hrs.

2180 meters        +16, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the S
1835 meters        +19, Winds were 0-5 KPH from the NNE
1550 meters        +16, Relative Humidity 58 %
  660 meters        +15, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest +32.6


For the forecast, upper level ridge here until at least Friday. Sunny skies today with warm temperatures. Possibly some cloud development Thursday morning, getting nicer on Thursday afternoon. Stronger onshore flow will bring a change on Friday with unsettled conditions in the morning and afternoon as a trough moves in for the evening with some welcome precipitation. Showers look likely for Saturday into Sunday afternoon prior to more nice weather by Sunday evening into Monday.

    Big picture this morning. Some moisture appears to be heading our way.

    Still lots of stratus cloud along the coast.

    Looking like a nice day for Thursday!

July 14, 2014

    Hortstman Glacier looks to be melting quickly this year.

    South side of Blackcomb is looking pretty dry.

    Sunrise on Finn Island, sharp turn for the tankers if they go to Kitimat. Whales every where!!!

    Harper recently took away Humpback protection so he can ram his project down our throats.

    There were sleeping wales in Squally Channel, saw at least 14 where the tankers would come in.

   After spending 6 days in the area I have to agree, there is too much at stake to allow this to happen.

                             We should always listen to the locals.

    The West Coast is a difficult place to find great campsites during the full moon.






Weather observations for July 14, 2014; taken at 07:00 Hrs.

2180 meters        +16, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the S
1835 meters        +17, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the S
1550 meters        +19
  660 meters        +20, Valley Temperature, Max temp Yesterday +35.6


For the forecast, the high pressure will continue to bring nice weather to the Whistler area. Ridge should weaken by Thursday evening allowing some cloud to move into the region as a weak upper trough builds into the area. There is a possibility of some precipitation but only time will tell. I am sure the forest could use some moisture. Amazing weather up here on the North coast!!

    Satellite image from 12:30 July 14, 2014.

    High is looking strong for a few more days.

    Convective clouds near our zone.