December 3, 2014

    First light on Ipsoot Tuesday Morning! Sunrise was at 07:50 Hours.

    Spindrift Tuesday morning, still reverse loading!! Winds were 40-50 KPH.

    Sunshine on this slope released it on Tuesday Afternoon.

    Chutes are skiing well above 1900 meters.

    Sunset December 2, 2014.




Weather observations for December 3, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters        0, No wind data
2180 meters      +2, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the NNE
1860 meters      +2, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the NNE
1835 meters      +1, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the E
1650 meters       -4, No new snow, Base 51 cm
1550 meters       -3,  No new snow, Relative Humidity 72% Base 30 cm

  660 meters       -6, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest -3

    As of 06:45 this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.

For the forecast, high pressure aloft will continue to give us nice weather prior to a series of weak fronts moving in from the Southwest later this evening. Some cirrus cloud may form later today. Warm air aloft will bring inverted temperatures as the change in systems occurs. Thursday is looking unsettled with a mix of sun, cloud, and possible flurries by the evening. Friday starts unsettled but by the evening we could see moderate snowfall above the 1800 meter level. Guesstimates: 1-3 cm by Thursday morning and 8-12 cm by Saturday morning. Good chance we will see some decent snow Monday evening with mid mountain freezing levels. All models are presently in agreement that the Westerly-Southwesterly flow next week could bring decent precipitation rates to our zone.

    May see some of that moisture off the coast arrive for this evening.

    Could see some decent precip out of this front on Friday evening.

    Looks like it drys out on Saturday.

    Decent flow by early next week, should intensify by mid week.


ARTICLES:

Snow Cannons carpet local slopes to start ski season: The Province

West Antarctic melt rate has tripled in the past decade: Science Daily

Some of the largest avalanches caught on Film: The Contoller

Weather has been favouring the Southern US : Powderchasers

Be Avalanche Aware: Panhandle Backcountry

    A well established skin line into the Blackcomb Alpine.

    The Cold Full moon will be on December 6, 2014.  

December's Full Moon is called the Full Cold Moon. It is the month when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark.

    Surface Hoar is loving this weather.

Its early in the season, there are many obstacles out of the ski area boundary and conditions are very firm in the boundary. This is not the ride you want, this early in the season. Respect the conditions.

    Small pockets of soft slab yesterday on steep terrain.

December 2, 2014

    Some great light early Monday morning December 1, 2014.

    The snow making machine was making its own weather system in the valley Monday morning!!

    Clouds began to form by noon.

    Flurries later in the day.

    Cornices are growing quickly.


Weather observations for December 2, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters      -10, No wind data
2180 meters      -11, Winds were 15-25 KPH from the SSE
1860 meters      -10, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the WNW
1835 meters        -9, Winds were 1-5 KPH from the ENE
1650 meters      -10, No new snow, Base 50 cm
1550 meters        -8, Relative Humidity 83%

  660 meters      -12, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest -5

    As of 06:30 hours this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.


For the forecast, another awesome day with a dry stable air mass and moderating temperatures. The surface ridge is still flexing its strength and should be with us until Thursday. It will weaken on Thursday allowing some cloud into the area. There is a chance of some cloud spilling into our zone on Wednesday as well.  Freezing levels will likely reach 1500 meters by Wednesday evening. The amount of moisture available for the weekend seems to be diminishing and tracking Southward. Its probably a good thing considering the freezing level could reach 2000 meters by Friday and Saturday. Sunday is looking promising with lowering  freezing levels and some light precipitation. The weak El Nino is not playing fair at this point in time. Guesstimates 3-5 cm by Friday morning, 5-8 cm by Saturday morning.

    Satellite image from yesterday, you can see when the cloud moved in from the Northwest.

    Moisture from the South will creep into the area Thursday.

    A band of moisture may get here on Sunday.




ARTICLES: 

Becon review by Earn Your Turns: Arva Neo

Tuck in your tail in the backcountry: Powder Canada

Jumbo Day Lodge 56 meters from an Avalanche Path: Pique

The Professor of Powder: Jim Steenburgh

    Lost Lake and Green lake freezing over.

    There are a few layers that developed in November.  Profile at 2100 meters on a North aspect.

    We may have to be patient!!

    People are getting at it!!

December 1, 2014

    Another great day Sunday, November 30, 2014.

    Snow guns are pumping out some high quality snow.

    Looking towards Cowboy Ridge.

    Should have a track down here soon.

    Sun going down Saturday at 15:45 Sunday. Official sunset was at 16:15.


Weather observations for December 1, 2014, taken at 06:00 Hours this am.

2240 meters      -13, No wind data
2180 meters      -13, Winds were 25-30 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters      -10, Winds were 15-20 KPH from the E?
1835 meters      -10, Winds were 10-25 KPH from the SSW
1650 meters      -10, No new snow, Base 50 cm
1550 meters        -9, Relative Humidity 60% Base 30 cm

  660 meters      -12, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest -7.9

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have high cloud and unlimited visibility.

For the forecast, cold dry conditions in a Northwest flow aloft will continue today into Wednesday. A very weak trough to the Northwest will spill cloud into the area today.  On Tuesday/Wednesday mostly sunny conditions will prevail with the threat of minimum cloud development. Still looks like some cloud will move in on Thursday with some snow flurries in the evening. Light snow for Friday is a good possibility. Freezing levels will slowly moderate and rise to 1600 meters by Wednesday evening. This trend will continue into Thursday with limits hovering around 1800 meters.

    Interior high still dominating, with some cloud moving in from a weak trough to the Northwest.

   We will likely see very light snow out of this model for Friday.

    Surface High is dominating the weather pattern until at least Wednesday.

    Satellite image from Yesterday afternoon.

    The big picture shows moisture in the Pacific. Should see some snow by Friday.



ARTICLES:

Can you please help Fraser with his project by filling in Survey: AVYSTICK

January-October 2014 temperatures highest on record: Science Daily

Accident Report on Henderson Peak Avalanche Fatality: Avalanche.org

Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain - Dangerous Assumptions: Keegan Kilman

Snow report from the French Alps: Pistehors.com

    Thin layers of ice along the River of Golden dreams.

    Now that's a whale of a whale!

    Snow guns working to establish a ski out to the town centre.

    Amazing how much snow WB is making with these temperatures.

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.