February 5, 2015

    Golden SAR uses Class D to extract injured from Avalanche near Ski Resort.          Story Below

    Early Wednesday morning, February 4, 2015. Some blue for a while!!

    Clouds were forming to the South.

    By noon it was fairly cloudy.

    Blackcomb Mountain Wednesday afternoon.

    Whistler Mountain Wednesday afternoon.

    Grey and moist by days end.


Weather Observations for February 5, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        -2, Winds were 60-90 KPH from the SE
2180 meters        -2, Winds were 50-70 KPH from the SE
1860 meters        -1, Winds were 20-50 KPH from the ESE
1835 meters     -0.5, Winds were 25-50 KPH from the ESE
1650 meters         0, 13 cm of new new snow, Base 147 cm
1550 meters         0, 10 cm of new new snow, Base 121 cm,  Relative Humidity 100%.

  660 meters         0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +4, 0.2 mm recorded before midnight. .

   As of 07:00 Hrs we have obscured skies, limited visibility and wet snow is falling at 2 cm+ per hour.



For the Forecast, a strong warm moist sub-tropical air mass is moving into our area this morning in a Southwest flow aloft. There may be a break this afternoon before the brunt of the front arrives.  Wind and heavy precipitation will begin later today as a series of vigorous short wave troughs affect our zone into Monday. Freezing levels will begin to rise this morning, maxing out at 2000 meters by this evening and fluctuating by a couple of hundred meters into Saturday when cooler air will lower the FL to around 1600 meters. Sunday will see the FL rise to 1800 meters. The brunt of the precipitation appears to fall on Friday and Saturday night. Guesstimates: 8-10 cm by this afternoon, 20-25 cm above 1800 meters by Friday morning, 30-40 cm above 1800 meters by Saturday morning, 20-25 cm above 1600 meters by Sunday morning. We could receive up to 140 mm of rain in the valley by Saturday morning. More to follow!!

    Present flow, should get a break this afternoon before the deluge this evening.

    Todays picture.

    Saturday Morning

    Sunday.

     High reestablishes itself for Tuesday.


ARTICLES:

Update on Avalanche outside Kicking Horse Boundary: Golden, B.C.

Swiss Avalanches claim 248 lives over 10 years: WSL Statistics

Risky Slopes--Evaluating the Link between Snowfall and Avalanches: My Science

Creating an Avalanche: Valle de la Sionne, Switzerland

North Face Airbag system: Pistehors.com

Over-snow vehicle rule seeks Backcountry Balance: U.S. Forest Service

Evidence from warm past confirms recent IPCC estimates of climate sensitivity: Science Daily

    Blackcomb Peak on a cloudy afternoon.

    Sea King flying over Whistler late Wednesday Aft. It was precipitating at 14:30 hours at1550 M.

    Early in the morning.

    Just 3 hours later.

February 4, 2015

    Most of Europe has been hammered with snow, many avalanche deaths and near misses.  Net pic

    Julien Lopez was retrieving his ski and set off this avalanche at World Free Ride Competition. 

    Here is the avalanche in motion, story below.  Kappl, Austria                                  Internet Pics

    07:30 Hours February 3, 2015.

    Some breaks yesterday morning. Mid and lower cloud layers created some visibility issues.

    By noon the mid and lower levels began to rise, bringing cloudy conditions to the alpine.

    By 15:00 Hours it was variable visibility in the alpine.

    Whistler Mountain later in the afternoon, February 3, 2015.

    Some colour just before sunset.



Weather Observations for February 4, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        -7, Winds were 10-20 KPH from the SSE
2180 meters        -5, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the S
1860 meters        -6, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the W
1835 meters        -5, Winds were 0-10 KPH from the E
1650 meters        -3, No new new snow, Base 136 cm
1550 meters        -3, No new new snow, Base 99 cm,  Relative Humidity 91%.

  660 meters       +1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +5.6, 1.1 mm recorded there in 24 Hours.    



For the Forecast, a very weak warm front will bring cloudier conditions later this morning with some light precipitation this afternoon. A more vigorous warm front will arrive this evening bringing moderate precipitation and freezing levels around 1500 meters, continuing into Thursday. A series of wet frontal systems will affect our area in a Southwest flow from Thursday into Monday. There is the chance of a break on Saturday, but more on that as we get closer. Freezing levels will top out at around 2000 meters Thursday evening and then should slowly moderate through Friday, dropping to around 1800 meters. Saturday should see the FL at around 1600 meters, and dropping to 1400 meters by Sunday. Guesstimates: 8-10 cm by Thursday morning above 1500 meters, 10-15 cm above 1800 meters for Friday morning, 10-15 cm above 1500 meters by Saturday morning, 3-5 cm by Sunday morning. 

ARTICLES:

Free Skier sets off avalanche at World Tour Event: Austria

Scarpa Recalls F1 Ski Touring Boot: Product Recall

Werner Munter sees avalanche deaths as natural selection: 12 Avalanche Deaths in 5 Days

Update on the conditions in Switzerland: Jan 3, 2015

Hiker Buried under avalanche at Lavasan Heights: Iran

Surging backcountry popularity captures Ski Industries: SIA

Coast Mountain Backcountry Report, February 1, 2015: Escape Route

    Avalanche Control in Andorra.                                                                                        Internet Pic

    Mid and low level cloud in the valley yesterday morning.

    There were some nice breaks yesterday afternoon.

February 3, 2015

    A skier succumbed to injuries after burial in the Pyrenees, story below.                         Internet Pic 

    Iranian killed in an avalanche in Darbandsar, story below.                                             Internet Pic        

    Front moved in early Monday morning.

    Began to snow lightly in the mountains and in the valley.

    Snowing by 08:30 Hours at 700 meters.

    Still skiing to Creekside!!

    By 16:00 hours it stopped snowing and began to break. 3 cm recorded at 1650 meters Monday Aft.



Weather Observations for February 3, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        -6, Winds were 20-30 KPH from the S
2180 meters        -4, Winds were 20-30 KPH from the SW
1860 meters        -4, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the E
1835 meters        -2, Winds were 10-25 KPH from the SW
1650 meters        -2, 3 cm of new new snow, Base 137 cm
1550 meters        -1, Trace of new new snow, Base 114 cm,  Relative Humidity 96%.

  660 meters       +2, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +2.7, 2.0 mm recorded in 24 hours.

   As of 07:00 Hours we have broken cloud with unlimited visibility at 1835 meters.


For the Forecast, a broad flat ridge will maintain unsettled conditions for our zone into Wednesday afternoon and the air mass will be moist and stable. The flow is predominately Westerly with most of the weather systems travelling South of our area today and tomorrow.  A weak warm front will affect the area on Wednesday evening with Freezing levels around 1300 meters and moderate snowfall easing to light snowfall by Thursday afternoon. A series of fronts in a Southwest flow aloft will affect our area well into Monday with light to moderate precipitation and fluctuating freezing levels. FL could go as high as 1700 meters by Thursday evening and then go as low as 1400 meters by Friday evening. The front expected for Sunday could be the warmest with FL rising to 2200 meters. More on that later. Guesstimates 8-10 cm by Thursday morning, 15-20 cm by Friday morning above 1500 meters, 10-15 cm by Saturday morning, 10-15 cm by Sunday morning.

    Westerly flow with most of the moisture heading South of our zone.

    Jet streak just South of our area.

    Looking unsettled today with a chance of some flurries.

    Warm front moving in for Wednesday evening.



ARTICLES:

Pyrenees Avalanche claims a victim: France

Iranian Skier killed in Darbandsar Avalanche: Alborz Mountains, Iran

Avalanche fatality at Candanchu Resort: Spain

Off Piste Skiing- Staying safe in the backcountry: Europe

Skier survived long burial because of an air pocket: Austria

Sierra Nevada Ski Resorts close over lack of snow: Drought

Dismal Season at Crystal Mountain: Still Open

    Very cloudy in the morning into the early afternoon.

    Green Lake feeling the heat.

February 2, 2015

    Happy Groundhog Day!!!

    Limited visibility yesterday morning in the upper elevations.

    Winter wonderland in the valley February 1, 2015.

    Snow had stuck to everything.

    There was some decent visibility at times at tree line.

    There were even some breaks by days end.



Weather Observations for February 2, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        -8, Winds were 35-45 KPH from the SE
2180 meters        -7, Winds were 30-40 KPH from the S
1860 meters        -6, Winds were 20-40 KPH from the E
1835 meters        -4, Winds were 15-30 KPH from the SE
1650 meters        -4, No new new snow,  13 cm in 48 hours, Base 132 cm
1550 meters        -3, No new new snow,  13 cm in 48 Hours Base 112 cm,  Relative Humidity 87%.

  660 meters         0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3, Precip recorded 9.5 mm.

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


For the Forecast, a weakening front will arrive this morning with very light snowfall and a freezing level hovering around 1100 meters in a westerly flow aloft. The front will move through by this evening with unsettled conditions in its wake for Tuesday. A flat upper level ridge will build and the surface high will give a push with the chance of some flurries and a freezing level of around 1200 meters. A warm front will push onto the coast Wednesday afternoon with heavy snowfall expected for Wednesday night with a FL averaging around 1300 meters. A series of weaker fronts will follow with light to moderate snowfall expected from Thursday into Saturday. FL will fluctuate during this period and will be between 1500-1700 meters. Guesstimates: 2-4 cm by Tuesday morning, 18-20 cm by Thursday morning, 10-15 cm by Friday morning.  

    Yesterdays image from 16:15 hours.

    There is moisture out in the Pacific.

    Brunt of the moisture for today is moving South of our area, will be lucky to get 1-3 cm.

    Unorganised for Tuesday.

    Front will move on shore Wednesday afternoon.

    Thursday is looking juicy.

    Friday is looking good also, too bad about the FL.


ARTICLES:

Avalanches kill 12 people in the Alps and Black Forest: World News

Groundhog day brings more winter for Canada: Weather Channel

ACMG Mountain Conditions Report: Coast Range

Aussois ski instructor dies in an avalanche: France

Pennsylvania groundhog 'forecasts' 6 more weeks of winter: Punxsutawney, PA

The Real Super Bowl Commercial: Kicking Horse Resort

    Snowing at 10:00 hours in the valley.

    Still some keen biker's.

    Hwy 99.

    Whistler Golf Course.