January 26, 2015

    Avalanche in Pakistan claims two herder's, story below.                                             Internet Image

    Just after sunrise on Sunday January 25, 2015.

    First light Sunday Morning.

    Stratus layer above the valley floor.

    By mid day it was looking much nicer!

    Just before sunset, Sunday afternoon.


Weather Observations for January 26, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        +3, Winds were 30-45 KPH from the SSE
2180 meters        +4, Winds were 25-35 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters        +6, Winds were 15-30 KPH from the SSE
1835 meters        +7, Winds were 10-25 KPH from the SSE
1650 meters        +7, No new new snow, Base 124 cm
1550 meters        +7, No new new snow, Base 100 cm,  Relative Humidity 47%.

  660 meters          0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +9, Record max temp recorded yesterday.

Today we have 9 hours of daylight, Sunrise 07:54 Sunset 16:55.

   As of 07:00 Hours we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.


For the Forecast, high pressure aloft will result in unsettled conditions today (mostly sunny) in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The air mass is still warm and dry with freezing levels at 3000 + meters slowly dropping to 2000 meters by this evening. The ridge will move East tonight as a weakening front moves onto the coast with freezing levels dropping to 1600 meters Tuesday afternoon. The precipitation that may fall from this front will likely happen later this evening into Tuesday morning. The ridge will begin to rebuild Tuesday afternoon with unsettled conditions into at least Friday. There is a chance of stratus cloud development above the valley floor with the inverted temperatures. Another weak front is forecasted to arrive Friday evening with a slightly cooler and moist series of fronts possible for the weekend. Still a long way off, so more on that later. Guesstimates trace to 2 cm by Tuesday afternoon.

   Very weak front for tonight.

    Remnants of the Pineapple express to the North.

    Low is just to the North of our zone.

   Today's forecasted model.

    Upper ridge dominates for most of the week.


ARTICLES:

Update on the Avalanche that claimed six ski tourers in the Queyras Mountains: France

39 Avalanche Fatalities (6 more 2 days ago) this season in the European Alps: We Powder

Avalanche "Deadliest in Years": New Zealand Herald

Snow Avalanche kills 2 people in Mir Malik area of Astore: Pakistan

Photos from the field: Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center

   Some nice light near days end on Sunday.

   Tower 3 & 4  of the Peak to Peak on Blackcomb Mountain.

    View of Whistler around 15:00 Hours Sunday January 25, 2015.

   There were still some multi layers of cloud yesterday afternoon.

    Snow designs, Chamonix.                                                                                            Internet Image

January 25, 2015

    Avalanche claims life of a man in Svalbard, Norway. Story below.                               Internet Pic   

    Guide and client succumb to an avalanche in the Southern Alps in France, story below.    Net Pic

    Six ski tourers killed in an avalanche in the Queyras Mountains, France. Story below.      Net Pic

    Just prior to official sunrise at 07:57, Saturday January 24, 2015.

    It did begin to rain around 08:30 Hours, Saturday morning.

    By 16:00 Hours it began to dry out!



Weather Observations for January 25, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        +1, Winds were 55-70 KPH from the S
2180 meters        +2, Winds were 50-75 -KPH from the SSW
1860 meters        +4, Winds were 25-50 KPH from the SSE
1835 meters        +5, Winds were 20-65 KPH from the SSW
1650 meters        +6, No new new snow, Base 128 cm
1550 meters        +5, No new new snow, Base 102 cm,  Relative Humidity 91%.

  660 meters        +7, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +8, 5.3 mm of precip before Midnight yest.

    As of 07:00 Hours we have broken skies, variable visibility, no precip. Some clearing East.

For the forecast, the lingering warm front was very stubborn yesterday and seemed to recirculate back into our zone with very wet conditions. Blew that one!! For today the upper ridge should have a positive impact, with drier conditions,  but the low to the North will still be at our doorstep. This morning will be cloudy and become unsettled by this afternoon. Stratus layer above the valley will hopefully dissipate later today.  Monday will also be unsettled with a mix of sun and cloud with Freezing levels well above the local peaks today lowering to about 1600 meters by Tuesday morning. A weakening front will pass through early Tuesday morning and should dissipate by Tuesday evening when the surface high regains its position bringing unsettled weather into Friday. By mid week the freezing level should be hovering around 1400 meters. Guesstimates 1-2 cm by Tuesday afternoon. 

    Satellite image from 10:00 Hours while we were still getting some light rain, Saturday morning.

    Still some cloud and moisture in the area this morning.

    The surface ridge pushes harder on Monday.

    A weakening front here for Tuesday morning.

    Surface high rebuilds for Wednesday into Friday with unsettled weather and slightly cooler temps.

ARTICLES: 

Avalanche kills 1 man on remote Arctic Island: Svalband, Norway

Avalanche claims two in Puy St Vincent: Southern Alps, France

Another Six skiers killed in an avalanche in France: Queyras Mountains, France

Snow Climate Vulnerability and Resiliency: Wasatch Weather Weenies

Science of Whistler/Blackcomb snow reports: Vancouver Sun

Should ski resorts pay for avalanche injuries, cool video: CNN in Davos

    Even at days end it was still very moist in the valley.

    It was a very moist day in Vancouver on Saturday as well.

    Gloomy and moist in the forest.

    North Shore Mountains were socked in.

    A very dismal sunset on Saturday.

January 24, 2015

    Italian side of Mont Blanc takes the life of an American Skier, story below.                Internet Pic

    Just after 09:00 Hours Friday January 23, 2015. Temp at 1860 meters was + 0.5.

    Circa Noon Friday,  upper FL dropped slightly and it began to snow. Still +2 at 1835M.

    View in the valley, Friday afternoon. Green lake!



Weather Observations for January 24, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters          0, Winds were 25-30 KPH from the S
2180 meters        +1, Winds were 25-35 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters        +2, Winds were 15-20 KPH from the SSE
1835 meters        +4, Winds were 15-30 KPH from the S
1650 meters        +3, No new new snow, Base 140 cm
1550 meters        +4, No new new snow, Base 112 cm,  Relative Humidity 100%.

  660 meters        +2, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +6.1, 21.3 mm of rain recorded yesterday.

   As of 07:00 Hours we have overcast skies with limited visibility.


For the forecast, a weak warm front will slowly be pushed out of our area as the high pressure to the South strengths for tomorrow. For today we will have mostly cloudy skies with the chance of some intermittent light rain in a Southerly flow, the air mass is stable but moist.  The brunt of the precipitation is visiting our neighbours to the North.  Freezing levels will remain high and could top out later tonight at around 3000 meters. The residual moisture from the front yesterday will slowly dissipate by Sunday morning. With the warm temperatures a stratus layer will likely form above the valley floor. The surface high will bring unsettled conditions for Sunday afternoon with a mix of sun and cloud. As of now Monday is still looking like a warm sunny day. Another weak weather disturbance will push in for Tuesday with some isolated snow flurries and a freezing level dropping to 1600 meters. Unsettled weather looks likely for Wednesday. All the models are in disagreement to what will be happening Wednesday. Guesstimates Trace to 2cm on Tuesday morning above 1500 meters.

    Satellite image from 14:00 Hours Friday afternoon. More energy to the North.

    Looks intense South of the Queen Charlotte's.

    The High will begin to Push the low North, but very warm temperatures!!

    Looks mostly cloudy, the storm has shifted North. Light rain possible, but likely for this morning.

   High is rebuilding fairly quickly, for later today.

    Most of there cloud will be pushed out by Sunday afternoon.

   Looking dry, warm and sunny for Monday!!

   Very weak front on Tuesday.


ARTICLES:

American, Dave Rosenbarger dies in an avalanche in Italy: Italian side of Mont Blanc

6 Free Apps for Skiers\Boarders: Vancouver Sun

How to keep your head above snow: Verticulture

Technology improves avalanche gear for Backcountry Users: Salt Lake City, Utah

Coast Mountain Backcountry Report: January 22, 2015

    The moss is flourishing in the warm temps and moisture.

    At least most of the moisture is going North. light rain Friday afternoon.

   River of Golden Dreams. January 23, 2015.

    The forest was a fairly dry place with the light rain Friday afternoon.