October 22, 2014

    Soo Bluffs Monday morning; +1 at 2240 meters; 20+ mm of rain and some melting snow!!

    Green River at Nairn falls was pumping. Not full flood but strong flow.

    Tuesday Morning October 21, 2014; snow line is inching its way back down. +1 at 1835 M.

    Green Lake is full, snow line coming back down. Light showers Tuesday morning and afternoon.

    The Freezing Level Dance has begun. Looks like some cooler temperatures on the way.



Weather observations for October 22, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hrs.

2240 meters        -1.5, Winds were 50-65 KPH from the S
1860 meters           -1, Winds were 25-45 KPH from the S
1550 meters          +2, Relative Humidity 99 %
  660 meters          +6, Valley temperature, Max Temp Yest +10.5, 17.9 mm of rain Yest.

    Cloudy with some holes at 07:30 hours this am. Snow line gained some more ground!


For the Forecast, a strong frontal system passed through early this morning moving Eastward. We will see isolated rain showers in its wake prior to the next front with heavy rain reaching our zone this evening. Freezing levels will begin to drop Thursday, with light precipitation amounts expected for the day. Friday morning at this time is looking unsettled prior to a deep surface low arriving on Friday night into Saturday, with moderate to heavy precipitation and freezing levels around 1800 meters. A moist South west flow will bring light  precipitation Sunday through Monday with freezing levels dropping and hovering around the 1500 meter level for this time period.  Tuesday may see another cooler wet Pacific front for more snow at mid mountain elevations. Will have more information on the out look for next week on Monday.

    Big Picture from Monday. Lots of moisture heading our way.


                                 Hurricane Ana is just south of the Jet Stream in image below.

                Jet stream acting like its an El Nino Year. Hurricane Ana may help the Draught in Cal.

     Cooler temperatures on the up side of the jet stream could bring some welcome snow.

     Looking wet to the South of our Zone.

    May see some breaks Friday morning as the low moves South.

    Cooler temperatures for next week as the low moves South.


Another update on the disaster in Nepal: People still missing

Another paper on Avalanche Transceiver Interference: John Barkhausen

"Field Line" Search revisited (Transceivers): Felix Meier

7 Day Powder Forecast for Whistler: PowderChaser.com

Volkl BMT  94 Backcountry Carbon Ski : Backcountry Skiing Blog

Latest from Nepal: Still Searching

               Come out and support this event. Avalanches are part of our experience on the Coast.

    Some breaks during the day Monday but Heavy Rain Monday night. 23.5 mm of rain at 660 M.

    Bike Park almost a ski run again. Tuesday afternoon.

    Shoulder Season, very quiet in town.

    River of Golden Dreams is bank to bank. Tuesday morning.

October 20, 2014

    Avalanches hampering rescue efforts in Nepal, 40 confirmed dead, story below.       Internet Image

    Very cloudy and wet on Friday. 16.4 mm recorded at 660 meters for Friday in 24 hours.

    Even with the warm temperatures on Saturday the snow remains.

    Snow in the Chilcotin Mountains.                                                                      Rhiannon Flann Pic

    Sunrise October 19, 2014. Officially at 07:40 Hours. Temperature at 2240 meters was +2.

    Fall colours are out, still warm for this time of the year. No heavy frost yet, very unusual fall.



Weather observations for October 20, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hrs.

2240 meters       +1, Winds were 35-45 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters       +3, Winds were 20-35 KPH from the S
1550 meters       +6, Relative Humidity 95 %
  660 meters     +11, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was +14.5, 7.0 mm of rain recorded yesterday, that was the amount that fell just before midnight.

    Overcast with limited visibility as of 07:30, warm temps at 2240 meters yesterday.


For the forecast, the slow moving front that arrived late last night will slowly abate and bring showers to the area later this morning into this afternoon. Possible for another rain event this evening. A brief lull in the rain for tomorrow before the next frontal wave brings more precipitation to our zone. The Southwest flow will continue to bring moist conditions with cooler temperatures into Thursday. We may get a break on Friday but will have more on that Friday morning. Freezing levels are already slowly declining and by tomorrow we should see the snow line begin coming back down the slopes. By Thursday we should see the freezing level around 1500 meters. It has been unseasonably warm, records in many parts of BC were broken yesterday for maximum day time temperatures.

    Satellite image from Sunday afternoon.

    Became very cloudy in the afternoon on Sunday.

   Tomorrow is also looking wet.

    Not looking very good for Friday either.

Jet stream influencing the area, but certainly behaving like an El Nino year with the dip into California. Hopefully this winter will quell some of the draught issues. Lets hope it still brings moisture our way with the right mix of cold air from the North.



Update on the disaster in Nepal: Search being terminated

A Goal of Zero: The Avalanche Industry looks to Change: Backcountry Magazine

Nepal blames 'Cheap Tourists' for falling victim to Snowstorm in the Himalayas: Guardian
I guess there are many perspectives.

Recriminations follow deaths of hikers in Nepal: New York Times

Avalanches Explained - How people trigger disasters: National Geographic

Law Firm begins soliciting GoPro customers: Hagens Berman
What about radios, cameras,  GPS devices and cell phones; why not go after every electronics company!!!

The effects of consumer electronics on Avalanche Transceivers: Meister & Dammert

The Best Avalanche Airbag Pack Review: Outdoor Gear Lab

    West Coast art at the Train Wreck, Saturday.

    Unsettled conditions on Saturday, October 18, 2014.

    Unsettled conditions Sunday morning at sun rise.  1.3 mm of rain recorded at 660 meters on Sat.

October 17, 2014

    Dhaulagiri Claims 5 people in an avalanche, Death toll 29 in Nepal, more missing. Story below:

    Cyclone Hudhud brings tragedy to the Nepal trekking season. Stories in articles below.

   Light rain on Wed morning. 5.8 mm of rain recorded at the Nester's Weather Station for Wed.

    Multiple cloud layers on Wednesday.

    Temperatures warmed up to +1 at 18:00 hrs on Wednesday at 1835 meters,  -1 at 2240 meters.

    Snow line moved down Thursday Morning.

    Mount Currie Thursday October 16, 2014.

    Thursday October 16, 2014 at 17:00 Hrs. A few holes over the valley.


Weather observations for October 17, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hrs.

2240 meters        -1, Winds were 30-50 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters         0, Winds were 10-25 KPH from the SE
1550 meters       +3, Relative Humidity 95%
  660 meters       +5, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was +9.7, .3 mm of rain recorded


For the forecast, A low in a Southwesterly flow, has reached the coast with heavy precipitation expected later today. A warm front will bring light rain this morning before a cold front arrivers later today with moderate to heavy rainfall. This low will push through by Saturday morning leaving showers and cloudy conditions in its wake. Unsettled conditions should prevail by Saturday afternoon as a weak ridge builds into Sunday. Expect a mix of sun and cloud before another front moves our way Sunday evening. Heavy precipitation with this next front will ease by Monday afternoon than intensify into the evening and ease off by Tuesday morning. The weather will be influenced by two major events in the Pacific, Typhoon Vongfang this weekend and there is a possibility the remnants of hurricane Ana may reach our coast by next week.  Freezing levels are expected to go higher than the local peaks by the weekend, then drop back down by Tuesday. We are dodging a very wet bullet heading to the northern parts of Vancouver Island and the wet coast where they could receive in excess of 200 mm of rain in the next week. We should see the snow line again by Wednesday, could drop as low as 1500 meters. Warm weather may follow.

    Heavy Precipitation for today.

    A change for Saturday.

    You can see hurricane Ana at the bottom left of this image.

    Potential for 20-40 mm of rain by Saturday afternoon.

    Lots of moisture out in the Pacific.

Video Fridays:

Typhoon Vongfong: From Space

Speed Kiting in Chamonix: Arnaud Longobardi

James Heim's Whistler backcountry POV: Edit 2014

This dude has some quick reflexes: Situational Awareness

US Winter Outlook on You Tube: Climate Prediction Centre

Helicopters used to rescue people in Nepal: Manang, Nepal



Articles:

Death Toll climbs as Nepal Rescuers search for missing Hikers: Himalayas

HOARR your way to Backcountry Travel: Friends of Berthoud Pass

Remnants of Cyclone Hudhud cause deadly blizzards and avalanches in Nepal: The Watchers

Anatomy of an Avalanche: CBC News

Avalanche Canada Mountain Weather Forecast: ACMWF

Life and death choices in a Himalayan Blizzard: New York Times

        Avalanche Canada Foundation having a fund raiser at Dusty's: Click here to order tickets

                     Cyclone Hudhud lingers over Nepal On Tuesday into Wednesday.

    Great colours in the Upper Pemberton Valley on Wednesday afternoon.

    Early Thursday morning.

    Satellite image from yesterday at 12:30 Hours. Image below taken at the same time, 1835 meters.

    Temperature was +2 at 12:30 Hours.