March 23, 2015

    Avalanche has killed two sledders near McBride B.C. Story in article section.                   Net Pic

    Low level cloud in the valley early Sunday March 22, 2015.

    Some cool colours at first light on Sunday morning.

    Peak of Whistler first light Sunday morning.

    Seriously dark layer Sunday morning South of lesser ring.

    The front moved in bringing cloudy conditions in the afternoon with light precipitation.

Weather Observations for March 23, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -8, Winds were 15-25 KPH from the SSE
2180 meters     -5, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters     -6, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the E
1835 meters     -4, Winds were 5-15 KPH from the S
1650 meters     -2, 6 cm of new snow, 1 cm in 24 hours, Base 185 cm
1550 meters     -2, 6 cm of  new snow, Base 132 cm,  Relative Humidity 98%. 

  660 meters    +3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +9.5, 1.2 mm recorded on Sunday

    As of 07:00 Hrs at 1835m we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility, cloudy below 1600m.

Large avalanche cycle Saturday-Sunday in the Whistler area, numerous size 1-2.5 avalanches observed in HST some stepping down into March 11 crust/facet PWL. Some images and observations below.


For the forecast, a weak upper level and surface trough will bring unsettled weather to the area today in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The freezing level should rise to 1500 meters during the day dropping to 1100 meters this evening. There is the possibility of some isolated showers during the day. A very weak ridge will build for Tuesday but with the low pressure so close we will see unsettled conditions but drier that today in a Northwesterly flow aloft. A warm front moves into the area on Wednesday
with the FL rising from 1200 meters to 2000 meters by Wednesday night. The front will bring cloudy conditions with light precipitation and a rising Fl into Thursday morning. (2500 meters)  A weak high pressure builds into the area Thursday afternoon with unsettled conditions through to Friday evening. A warm frontal band is expected on Saturday with moderate precipitation. Guesstimates: trace to 2 cm above 1000 meters by Wednesday morning, 3-5 cm above 1800 meters by Thursday morning.

     Image from late Sunday afternoon.

    Big picture from Sunday afternoon.

    Should see unsettled conditions later this morning.

    NAM model for Today.

    Surface high builds for Tuesday with unsettled conditions.

    Warm front for Wednesday in a Westerly flow.

    High pressure builds for Thursday and Friday with cloud spilling into the area from the Low.


ARTICLES:

Two snowmobilers killed in an avalanche near McBride: Global News

Large avalanche reports-Avalanche Canada: ACMG Blog

'Dismal' snowpack may be new normal in the Northwest: Washington State

J&K opposition demands compensation for avalanche victims: Kashmir, India

Evidence of huge avalanche in the Cairngorms: Scotland


Intel from Doug Tuck up on the Duffy:

Size 3.5. With a better look it could be a 4. FL 400X.8m est. Suspect the March 11^th FCxrCR layer. Likely occurred mid afternoon Saturday during a heavy convective shower judging from the lack of snow on the bed surface. Sorry about the poor photo quality. Cell phone through the binoculars.

Cheers

Doug Tuck

   NE face of Joffre March 22, 2015                                                                           Doug Tuck Image

Thanks for the intel Pat:

Taken around 1130am today, started by 2 skiers who skied the line through the center of it but it didnt initiate til they were at the bottom of the slope already. Class 1~1.5?  Pat

    Traverse from Don't Swill to Husume March 22, 2015.                                         Patrick Hui Image

Thanks for the photo from Steve Papas, different angle of avalanche from above.

A shot from 11:30 yesterday morning, significant warming occurring.  Second skier set it off, skied away.

That's what you get for closing those 8's! Steve Papas

    Figure 8's into an avalanche, Sunday March 22, 2015.                                       Steve Papas Image

Info from Tasso Lazaridis Snow profile on Mels/K2 in Ruby Bowl March 22, 2015 at 13:00 Hours. CTE 1 & CTM 11, 80 cms down.

    3 Natural avalanches out on the Pemberton Ice Cap Sunday morning, likely occurred Saturday Aft.

    Cornice released avalanches on the ice cap.

    Some awesome light early Sunday morning.

    Geese flying West over the ice cap Sunday afternoon.

March 22, 2015

    Avalanche kills two women and a child in Banihal, India. Story in Articles below.   Internet Pic

    By 8:00 Hours on Saturday March 21, 2015 a sucker hole passed through. .

    08:15 Hours, not many keen powder hounds.

    A brief break in the cloud on Saturday morning.

    Big line up for Spanky's, Saturday morning.

    Some blue skies later in the day but the low level clouds hung around all day.

    Challenging visibility in the alpine at times yesterday.

    Snow line is decent, just before last light on Saturday.


Weather Observations for March 22, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -9, Winds were 15-25 KPH from the SE
2180 meters     -6, Winds were 25-35 KPH from the SSE
1860 meters     -6, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the E
1835 meters     -5, Winds were 10-20 KPH from the SSE
1650 meters     -5, Trace of new snow, 1 cm in 24 hours, Base 181 cm
1550 meters     -3, Trace of  new snow, Base 125 cm,  Relative Humidity 100%. 

  660 meters    +1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +8.3, 3.2 mm recorded on Saturday

    As of 06:45 we have broken cloud, unlimited visibility at 1835 meters &  low cloud in the valley.



For the forecast, a weak cold front will move onshore later this morning with light precipitation and a freezing level of around 1500 meters this afternoon, dropping to 1000 meters by this evening in a Southeasterly flow.  Low level cloud will proceed the front early this am. An upper level trough will develop for Monday afternoon bringing unsettled conditions with some isolated flurries to the area until Tuesday night. FL will fluctuate from daytime highs of around 1500 meters to night time lows of around 1000 meters. On Tuesday evening a weak frontal band moves on shore with a warm front approaching on Wednesday with the FL rising to 2000 meters by Wednesday night, accompanied by light precipitation.  A warm upper level ridge will begin to build on Thursday with unsettled conditions, FL rising to 3000+ meters, strengthening into Friday with warm sunny conditions. Guesstimates: 5-8 cm by Monday morning, Trace to 2 cm by Tuesday morning, 5-8 cm by Wednesday morning, 4-6 cm by Thursday morning above 1800 meters.

Whistler Blackcomb ski patrol had size 1-1.5 avalanche releases yesterday with ski cutting and explosive control work. There were also a couple of size 2 results observed. Several size 1-2 natural avalanches were observed near the ski area yesterday in the backcountry.

    Satellite image Saturday morning.

    Satellite image Saturday afternoon.

    The big picture with the next frontal band approaching the coast.

    Cold front moving on shore later this morning.

    Image from early this am.

    Cold front moving through this afternoon.

    Upper level trough following for Monday.

    Unsettled for Tuesday.

    Warm front for Wednesday.

    High pressure building again on Friday.

    Low is big, so is the high but unsettled conditions for most of next week, until Friday.



ARTICLES:

Massive avalanche kills 2 women, child in Banihal: Kashmir, India

Robson Gmoser respected risk-and pursued it with a passion: GlobeandMail

Are avalanches inherent risk of resort skiing?: Colorado Supreme Court

    Wedge early Saturday morning.

    Dave Murray run still doing well despite the temperatures.

    A short walk to Dusty's is now mandatory.

    Still skiing/riding into the town centre.

    Still able to get to the bottom of the wizard chair on Blackcomb.

    Timing flats on Dave Murray Saturday afternoon.

March 21, 2015

    10:00 Hours Friday morning, +1, 20-40 KPH winds from the SE at 1835 meters.

    Reflection of the bottom of Whistler Mountain in Green lake yesterday morning.

    Snow line was still fairly low.

    Light rain in the morning before the lull in precipitation.

    Obscured in the alpine for most of the day. -1 at 12:00 hours, -2 by 19:00 Hours last night.

    Moderate precipitation in the afternoon and into the evening.

    19:00 Hours at 1835 meters Friday evening, similar visibility, -0.5, 20-45 KPH winds from the SE.



Weather Observations for March 21, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -4, Winds were 40-60 KPH from the S
2180 meters     -2, Winds were 35-60 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters     -3, Winds were 25-45 KPH from the ESE
1835 meters     -1, Winds were 25-55 KPH from the SSE
1650 meters      0, 18 cm of new snow, Base 181 cm, Max temp last night was +1
1550 meters    +1, 12 cm of new snow, Base 130 cm,  Relative Humidity 100%. 

  660 meters    +4, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +5.9, 16.2 mm up to Midnight
                              Squamish recorded 63.6 mm of precipitation on Friday.

   As of 07:00 Hours we have obscured skies, limited visibility and it is snowing 1 cm per hour.


Explosive control on Whistler Blackcomb yesterday produced mostly size 1-1.5 avalanches, slabs were up to 25 cm thick. Some natural cornice releases were observed from during the storm. A size 2 was recorded on Whistler.

For the forecast, an upper level trough will bring cloudy conditions with light/moderate precipitation this morning easing to unorganised showers later in the day with the freezing level hovering around 1500 meters in a Southwesterly flow. A weak upper level shortwave ridge will move through the area this evening into tomorrow morning with unsettled conditions and a FL averaging about 1300 meters. Increased cloud may bring isolated flurries to the area Sunday afternoon as a cold front moves South of our zone but bringing light precipitation for Sunday night. A series of weak fronts will move through the area early next week with unsettled conditions, the FL will range from 1200 to 1500 meters with light precipitation at times, with cloudy skies to broken cloud with some sunny breaks.
Guesstimates: 1-3 cm today above 1400 meters, 8-10 cm by Monday morning above 1000 meters.

   Light rain this morning diminishing to showers later in the morning.

    Upper level trough passes through later today, with some drying out this evening.

    Drier by this afternoon.

    Upper level trough early Sunday prior to the arrival of a cold front.

    Cold front moving through later on Sunday.

    Upper level trough for Monday with unsettled conditions.

     Moisture in the area for Tuesday.

ARTICLES:

Spicy avalanche conditions expected for the Sea to Sky Corridor: Avalanche Canada

An avalanche survival story: James Mort

March weather, avalanche conditions 'unprecedented' in Aspen: Colorado

March will hopefully go out like a Lion: Gibbons Life

Kyrgyzstan--Warmer world raises avalanche risk: Eurasianet

    Very cloudy and moist in the valley Friday March 20, 2015. First day of spring.

    White line is still doing fairly well considering the temperatures.

    Cooler temperatures coming next week.