21 Nov 2014

November 21, 2014



    This image corresponds to the same time frame as the satellite image below. Thursday at noon.


    This group will be glad when Saturday comes.

    Clouds broke for a short period of time by days end Thursday.


Weather observations for November 21, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters       -3, Winds were 30-50 KPH from the S
1860 meters    -1.5, Winds were 25-45 KPH from the ESE
1550 meters        0,  Relative Humidity 99.5%
  660 meters      +3, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was +5.7, 1.6 mm of rain recorded


    As of 07:00 Hours it was overcast, snowing lightly with limited visibility.

For the forecast, a pacific storm is upon us, but most of the energy is South of our Zone. We can expect light to moderate precipitation rates in a Westerly flow with the freezing level hovering around 1600 meters. Models are uncertain as far as the near future goes, so stand by. Still favouring the 10-15 cm guesstimate by Saturday morning. Hope I am wrong, we can certainly use as much as we can get!! Saturday looks unsettled at this time with mostly cloudy skies and occasional breaks to the blue.  An occluded front moves through on Sunday with light precipitation and freezing levels around 1200 meters. Still favourable for some slightly above average seasonable temps early next week with some weak fronts pushing through. Looks like a warmer air mass for Tuesday with heavy precipitation, lets hope that goes South.


    Westerly flow with some decent precip for today.


    Certainly enough moisture in the Pacific!! Yesterdays big picture.

        Looks like most of the precipitation is heading South. Even California looks wet.

    Precipitation for today.


Video Friday's:

How to wax your Ski's: Rated adult

67 meter jump, off a ski jump on a snowmobile: Sweden

Wing Suit and Speed Kite join in mid flight: Norway

The next generation of Airbags: Kind of like the James Bond Avalanche Bag

Massive cliff huck on a sled: Curtis Ciszek





ARTICLES:

Macro Snowflake: Alexey Kljatov

Some news from Nepal: Permit Issues

Kinds of Avalanches: NAC

Wild weather in the Arctic causes problems for people and wildlife: Science Daily

Another article on the Alpride Airbag: Backcountry Skiing Blog

Snowmaking and Changing Weather Patterns: The Arc'teryx Blog





Some intel from 2075m, N asp 140 cm on firn, no significant results DF/FCxr down 30
CTM 11 brk below RC. Nov 20, 2014 Thanks


Will RFID Interfere With Other Electronics
Q: Will RFID technology interfere with my wireless technology such as avalanche beacons?
Answer: The radio frequencies used by RFID are assigned by regulatory agencies around the world to help ensure that no interference occurs. Avalanche beacons operate on 457kHz, have heard that some RFID cards are in the 13 MHZ range. Will try to find out the frequency of Whistler Blackcomb RFID Passes?


    Sproat mountain yesterday morning, light precip and obscured.

    Sweet ride through the cloud in the new Whistler Gondola!! Will be some interesting photo opps!!!

    Just before sunset which was 16:22 yesterday. A brief glimpse of the mountains.

With 25 cm at 1650 on the ground, pay attention to all the signs out there, its a long season you do not want to be needing directions to here.  Have fun, but look around!! Ski and Ride Responsabilly .


Starting next January World Cup racers will be able to wear inflatable airbags. It is a similar system used by motorbike racers that inflate in high-speed crashes and offer support to the head and neck.
The system has been developed by Italian manufacturer, Dainese, in coordination with the International Ski Federation, FIS. It has three accelerometers, three gyroscopes, a GPS, and onboard electronics that collect all the data and deploy the airbags before a racer crashes into the ground.
They will used for the first time at a World Cup events in the women’s downhill in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria, on January 10th.
The men will use it for the first time at the Lauberhorn in Wengen, Switzerland, the following weekend.
“History is what drives the future,” International Ski Federation (FIS) secretary general Sarah Lewis told The Associated Press on Tuesday after the approval was announced. “So the lessons learned from different crashes in the past are used as the basis to improve the situation in the future.”

Free riders could use these!! Maybe insurance companies will require everyone to wear one!!!!




20 Nov 2014

November 20, 2014


    Sunrise Wednesday morning, Phalanx Ridge.

    Frozen water still around in shaded areas.

    Even with the +4 C temperatures there was still ice near the Cheakamus River.

    Cloudy conditions on Wednesday afternoon.

    These clouds remind me of snow on the way.

    Just after sundown on Green Lake November 19, 2014.




Weather observations for November 20, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters       -4, Winds were 35-50 KPH from the S
1860 meters       -3, Winds were 10-30 KPH from the S
1550 meters    -0.5,  Relative Humidity 96 %
  660 meters        0, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was +3.8, Trace of precip


For the forecast,  a cold front passed the area early this morning and a weak low pressure system in a Westerly flow will slowly move over our zone today. A stronger front will move in tomorrow with steady light precipitation and another cold front moving through Friday evening. Looks like the brunt of the moisture will be South but we could get 10-15 cm of snow tomorrow. The weekend will bring a wet unsettled pattern with a stronger front on Sunday. Models are in disagreement for the medium range forecast. More intel by tomorrow. Guesstimates: 2-4 cm Today, 10-15 cm tomorrow, trace during the day Saturday. Freezing levels will hover around 1400 meters today and slowly drop to 1000 meters by Friday evening.


    As of 07:00 hours this am it is snowing lightly, overcast with limited visibility at 1860 meters.


Articles:

6 Signs of exposure: Avalanche Safety Blog

Skier's push for Bend Avalanche Forecast Center: Oregon

Snowmobiler's push safety as machines become more powerful: Calgary Herald

Snowfall gives hope to Southwest Ski Resorts: National News



    Forest Floor Hoar.

    Amazing how this can disrupt soil and Flora.

    Still some ice on Balls to the Walls Falls.



19 Nov 2014

November 19, 2014

    Sunrise November 18, 2014. Officially at 07:30 Hours.

    By noon the temperatures began to warm up to +3 in the valley. Guns had to be shut down for now.

    Cloud layer broke occasionally during the day!

    Northwest Couloir on Wedge Mountain Tuesday afternoon.




Weather observations for November 19, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     +1, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the S
1860 meters     +3, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the NNE
1550 meters     +4,  Relative Humidity 54 %
  660 meters      -1, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was +3.3


    Mostly cloudy skies this am with unlimited visibility. 07:00 Hours.


For the forecast, today we can expect an unsettled early morning with overcast conditions by the afternoon and possibly some very light precipitation later today with an elevated freezing level. (2800 meters this am dropping this evening) A cold front will move into our Zone Wednesday evening\ early Thursday morning bringing the freezing level down and hovering around 1200 meters by the morning. A stronger frontal system will push through Friday with freezing levels hovering in the same range. Saturday and Sunday are looking like mostly cloudy days with possible light flurries above 800 meters. Temperatures should drop to near the valley level early next week with a series of fronts forecasted to move onshore in a Westerly flow. Long range models are edging towards a series of cooler moist fronts for next week. No significant storms but at least the pattern has shifted and we are looking at a more seasonable outlook. Guesstimates 1-3 cm for Thursday, 12-16 cm for Friday, Trace-2 cm for Saturday.



    Cold front moving in later today.



    Frontal system moving onshore Friday. 


    Moisture expected for Friday.


Beacon Overload: BCA

Two Small Slab Avalanches: Stubaier Gletscher, Austria

Avalanche Canada seeks Support: Question

Whistler Mountain opening on Saturday, November 22.:WB

The Human Factor, Chapter 2: Nickel or Dime

A towering wall of snow fell on Buffalo: CityLab




    Looking South over Green Lake Tuesday afternoon.


    White line evident on Blackcomb, opening day is November 27, 2014.

    Avalanche Hut at 1860 meters on Blackcomb Mountain.






18 Nov 2014

November 18, 2014

    Sunrise, November 17, 2014. Officially at 07:28 Hours.

    Monday morning, cold temps in the valley, snowmaking to the Valley on Whistler Mountain. -10

    If the temperatures remain cold enough there will be a white ribbon to the Valley.

    Whistler Alpine, picture taken on November 17, 2014.

    Nice to see some cloud in the sky!! Sun beginning to drop around 16:00 hours.




Weather observations for November 18, 2014; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     +3, Winds were 8-12 KPH from the WNW
1860 meters     +5, Winds were 0-5 KPH from the ESE
1550 meters     +6,  Relative Humidity 37 %
  660 meters      -3, Valley Temperature, Max Temp Yest was +1.4


    High layer of cloud with unlimited visibility this am. May get some breaks later today.


For the forecast, unsettled conditions for today with mostly cloudy skies. Inverted temps until Wednesday with FL well above the local peaks.  Wednesday will also start with unsettled conditions with a weak cold front moving through late in the evening. This transition will bring cooler temperatures to the alpine. Freezing levels should begin to drop by early Thursday morning in the 1400 meter range and slowly follow that trend into the weekend, with FL  below and hovering around  the 1000 meter mark. Finally the jet stream is flattening out which should bring a series of weak lows for this week and a strong Westerly flow to the area by early next week. Will be starting the snow guesstimates soon, very light flurries for Thursday with the chance of 10-15 cm above 1000 meters on Friday. A little rusty so I am sure those numbers will be adjusted by Thursday's Post.




    Weak low on the way for later on Wednesday.


    Weak cold front will bring cooler temperature on Thursday morning.


  
    Could get some good snow out of Friday's Low.


    Long range looking into Sunday.


ARTICLES:

3 Great Ski patrol Videos about a Day in the Life : Medics Blog

Turiano Publishes most Expensive Guide Book in the World: $100.00 Ski Touring Book

Cold Air and the Lake Effect: Global News

Experts Only: 5 Resorts where you should hire a guide: Outside Magazine

Ensemble prediction of Avalanche Hazard: ISSW 2014




    New snow maker at the bottom of Blackcomb. Inverted yesterday max temp was +6 at 1860 m.

    Facets evident to the eye in a very thin snow pack at 1860 meters.


   1-2 cm wind slab at tree line in some reverse loaded terrain. 


    High cirrus cloud almost all day.


    A couple of well fed Doe's on Blackcomb.