November 30, 2014

    Early Saturday am, strong outflow with frigid temperatures. Spindrift promoting reverse loading.

    Lots of snow being moved around on Wedge.

    Awesome temperatures for making cold snow at the bottom of the Mountains.

    Sunset yesterday at around 16:15.


Weather observations for November 30, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters      -12, No wind data
2180 meters      -10, Winds were 10-20 KPH from the S
1860 meters        -9, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the E
1835 meters      -13, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the W
1650 meters      -14, No new snow, Base 55 cm
1550 meters      -13, Relative Humidity 72%

  660 meters      -13, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest -8.5

    Clear skies, unlimited visibility this am. Image taken at 07:30 Hrs.



For the forecast, the cold air mass embedded in our area will give us cool dry weather into mid week. We can expect a gradual warming trend to develop early in the week with freezing levels moderating and rising to 1200 meters by Wednesday. A weak front should move on shore by Thursday with cloudy conditions. Friday is looking like a snow day with light snow expected above 800 meters. 

                           

    Very cold yesterday.

    Moisture to the North and South.

    We are in a bit of a dry hole!!

    GFS model showing some clouds moving in on Wednesday.


  ARTICLES:

Avalanche Airbag Pack Basics: Backcountry

Best Jobs in a Ski Town: Last Frontier Heliskiing Blog

Shovel Tilt Test: Alaska

Manny gets Silver in Downhill: Lake Louise World Cup

    Valley temps were prime for making copious whales!!

    There will be a ribbon of snow right to the valley in no time!!

    Frozen ground on the Four Lakes Trail in Squamish.

    Mount Garibaldi was looking spectacular yesterday.

    Some snow in Squamish.

November 29, 2014

    First light Friday morning, November 28, 2014.

    The day started off with some awesome light yesterday morning.

    Water was flowing out of the mountains yesterday morning in every conceivable water channel.

    By mid morning it had gone from +8 to -1 fairly quickly.

    Sunrise was officially at 7:45 yesterday morning.

    Snowing and obscured conditions in the alpine yesterday afternoon.


Weather observations for November 29, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters      -25, No wind data
2180 meters      -25, Winds were 60-100 KPH from the WNW
1860 meters      -23, Winds were 35-55 KPH from the W
1835 meters      -22, Winds were 20-45 KPH from the NNE
1650 meters      -20, 6 cm of new snow, Base 55 cm
1550 meters      -18, Relative Humidity 84%

  660 meters      -12, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +7.7, 8.6 mm recorded there yesterday

If you were standing at 2240 meters as of 06:00 hours and you take the average wind speed of 80 KPH at the present temperature the Wind Chill Factor would be -45.  At the Roundhouse, averaging the wind speed at 35 KPH the wind chill factor is -37.

    As of 07:15 Hours this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.


For the forecast, the modified arctic cold front is embedded in our zone for the next while. Strong Northerly flow will prevail for the next few days and temperatures will moderate daily to more tolerable levels. We can also expect some cloud development Sunday and Monday. No precipitation in the forecast for the next 5 days. Today will be the coldest day.

    Satellite image from yesterday afternoon, we were close to being in the clear.

    Very complicated movement of systems yesterday.

    On the edge.

    Temperature should moderate on Sunday to -10 mid mountain.


ARTICLES:

North Pacific Warm Spot Worries Scientists: Peter Sinclair

Mission-Avalanche Control: BC Highways

Arctic Outflow Warning: Whistler

Buried in snow for 7 hours: Montana

Backcountry skier narrowly misses burial near  Brighton: Utah

   There was some decent snow at around the 2000 meter level.

    Size 2.5 out of ID Low in the Lakeside area during the meltdown. Frozen Chunder!!

    Sun refracting off some snow crystals in the multi layer cloud level.

    Snow guns were back on yesterday afternoon.

November 28, 2014

    Early Thursday Morning.

    There was no doubt the freezing levels were high. Horstman creek was flowing!!

    Water started to pool on certain terrain features.

    Size 1.5 natural cornice drop in Blackcomb Bowl.



Weather observations for November 28, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters      -7, No wind data
2180 meters      -6, Winds were 45-70 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters      -4, Winds were 20-45 KPH from the SSE
1835 meters      -4, Winds were 15-35 KPH from the SSW
1650 meters      -2, 1 cm of new snow, Base 50 cm
1550 meters      -1, Relative Humidity 79%
  660 meters     +5, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +8.1, 24.4 mm recorded there before midnight.

Squamish received 110.6 mm of precipitation up to Midnight on November 27, 2014.

    Awesome looking morning, clear skies with some cloud clinging to the mountains, unlimited visibility.

For the forecast, the very warm front moved East early this morning with clear cold weather in its wake. Temperatures are dropping quickly as  Arctic air moves into our area. There is a deep upper trough off the Coast of Vancouver Island forming which will shift South later today meeting the Arctic air moving in from the East. We may see some cloud from this system and light snow flurries but it looks like it may track South of our area bringing snow to Vancouver. High pressure originating from BC interior with a low level offshore flow will bring mainly cold and dry weather into early next week. 

    The very warm air mass has moved East with clear skies in its wake. 

The high is already dominating the pattern, the trough off the coast will move South. Unless we get some recirculation which may bring some light precipitation and cloud later today the Arctic outbreak is looking very strong and pushing everything South.

     Arctic outbreak will bring cold temperatures to the area Saturday.

VIDEO FRIDAY'S:

Bruce Temper and Risk: Vimeo

Couple who survived Himalayan Avalanche recount Fears: USA Today

Avalanche Experience: Geraldine Fasnacht

Henderson Mountain Avalanche: Avalanche Guys

Side Country Skiing = Backcountry Skiing: GNFAC

How to be a skier: You Tube





ARTICLES:

Avalanche warning for the BC Interior: Avalanche Canada

More information on the Henderson Mountain Avalanche fatality: Montana

Article on Snowmaking: Gibonslife.com

How to read Weather Forecasts during Snow Season: Ian Bolliger

    Not that busy yesterday on Blackcomb!

     Freezing level slowly dropped through out the day. This was around 14:00 Hours.

    There were many periods of no precipitation followed by intense precip with strong winds yest.

November 27, 2014

    Early Wednesday Morning. Nice to see the snow right to the valley!!

    At 1000 meters there was at least 25 cm of fresh snow.

    Above 1550 meters there was an inversion on November 26, 2014. +2 at 1860 M at 08:00 Hrs.

    Ski cutting yesterday produced some size 1 wet loose avalanches and a few wet slab avalanches.




Weather observations for November 27, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters      -0.5, Winds were 40-60 KPH from the SSW
2180 meters          0, Winds were 45-80 KPH from the S
1860 meters        +1, Winds were 40-65 KPH from the SSE
1835 meters        +2, Winds were 20-80 KPH from the SSE
1650 meters        +3, No new snow, Base 52 cm
1550 meters        +4, Relative Humidity 92%
  660 meters        +3,Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +0.8, 26.8 mm recorded there before midnight.

For the forecast, the moist onshore flow will continue into this afternoon with Freezing levels hovering around 2000 meters and gradually lowering to about 1600 meters by this evening. A cold front and upper level trough will bring light snow for Friday with freezing levels below the valley floor by Friday evening. The surface high developing over central BC will bring cold temperatures to the area by Friday evening and we can expect clear cold weather for the weekend into early next week. Saturday may see a few clouds lingering with isolated flurries in the morning before it clears. Guesstimates for snow: 8-12 cm above 1550 meters for Friday morning. 4-6 cm during the day Friday. 

    The atmospheric river that has been bringing much unwelcome precipitation.

    Cold temperatures will bring a huge shift in the pattern tomorrow.

    The GFS forecasted model for today. Rain should ease off today.

ARTICLES: 

First Avalanche Fatality in North America: Montana

How far can the avalanche go?: Alpha Angle

Centre issues avalanche warning in 3 ranges: Montana

Red Heather Meadows Condition Report: ACMG Blog

Avalanche Canada Update: Avalanche.ca

RWDI, now forecasting for Whistler/Blackcomb: Engineering Firm

Winter Outlook 2014-2015: Wyoming

    07:15 hours at the bottom of the Wizard.

    Natural wet slab avalanche activity once the temperatures spiked.

    Ski and ride responsibly, early season conditions!!

November 26, 2014

    Upload on the Wizard Tuesday morning.

    Felt like winter in the Alpine today.

    Everyone is preparing for opening day November 27, 2014.

    Snow was quite dry and skied well Tuesday.





Weather observations for November 26, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters         0, Winds were 25-75 KPH from the WSW
2180 meters      +.5, Winds were 60-80 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters    +1.5, Winds were 30-70 KPH from the ESE
1835 meters       +3, Winds were 20-60 KPH from the SSW
1650 meters       +2, 21 cm of new snow, 27 cm in 24 hours, Base 80 cm
1550 meters         0, Relative Humidity 99%
  660 meters         0,Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +1, 12.2 mm recorded there before midnight.

For the forecast, a warmer moist airmass slowly moved in last night, temperatures in the upper elevations did remain cold enough to give us 21 cm of new snow since yesterday afternoon. The temperature at 1860 meters went to 0 around 04:00 hours this morning. There is a lull in the precipitation prior to another cold front moving through this afternoon. Freezing levels are presently at 2300 meters. As the cold front moves in the FL should drop to 2000 meters with a period of heavy precipitation easing to moderate precip this evening. Thursday will see a continuation in precip with moderate amounts and a FL hovering around 1800 meters by the evening as another cold front moves through. Friday is looking unsettled with light snow and freezing levels dropping to the valley by Friday afternoon. Saturday the surface high and associated Arctic out break will bring clear cold conditions into Monday. The good news is that the FL will not be as high as forecasted earlier and precipitation amounts have been significantly reduced for our zone. 

     Warmer air mass from the pacific high to our South

    Thick clouds over the Whistler Area yesterday afternoon.

ARTICLES: 

Winter Weather Pattern in Western Canadian Mountains: David Jones

Guidelines on Local Adaptation to Climate Change for Water Management and natural hazards:
Alpine Convention Italy

Know the Snow: Video Contest Winners

As snow fades, California ski resorts face a brown future: John Branch

Snow close, but Crystal can"t open this weekend for skiing, boarding: Washington State

Little information, avalanche fatality on November 20, 2014: Switzerland

    Early season conditions, please be careful and stay within the Temporary Boundary.

    Lots of rocks and obstacles hidden by some fresh snow.

    Low is moving warm air and moisture into the flow.