March 29, 2015

         Avalanche near Revelstoke buries sledder, avalanche warning issued, story below. Net Pic

    Just after sunrise which was officially at 06:58 Saturday March 28, 2015.

    Began to break by 07:30 Hours.

    Even with the breaks there were isolated showers early in the morning.

    Cloud hung onto the peaks for most of the day.

    By mid morning on Saturday there was some decent light with high clouds and sunny breaks.

    Later in the afternoon the clouds and light precipitation did return.



Weather Observations for March 29, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -3, Winds were 60-85 KPH from the SSE
2180 meters      -3, Winds were 45-70 KPH from the S
1860 meters      -2, Winds were 35-55 KPH from the E
1835 meters      -1, Winds were 20-35 KPH from the SE
1650 meters      -1, 9 cm of new snow,  Base 177 cm
1550 meters      -1, 6 cm of snow, Base 128 cm, Relative Humidity 100%. 

  660 meters     +4, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +10, 1.4 mm recorded on Saturday.

Normal minimum temperature for this time of the year is -2, Yesterday was +4.9.

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

For the forecast, a slow moving front will bring moderate to heavy precipitation to the area this morning with a freezing level starting at around 1500 meters this morning rising to 1800+ meters this afternoon\ evening in a Southwesterly flow. We may see the precipitation ease by this afternoon depending on the flow, with moderate precipitation this evening.  Precipitation should ease Monday morning then slowly ramp back up in the afternoon\evening with the FL dropping to 1600 meters with the arrival of a cold front. An upper level trough will build for Tuesday into Thursday with mostly cloudy conditions, cooler temperatures and a showery pattern. Weak ridging to our South during this time period will likely bring a few breaks in the mix. FL from Tuesday to Thursday will range from 800 to 1400 meters.
Guesstimates: 20-30 cm above 1700 meters by Monday morning, 18-25 cm above 1600 meters by Tuesday morning, 4-6 cm above 1200 meters by Wednesday morning.

    Satellite image from yesterday 16:00 Hours.

    There is certainly moisture on its way.

    Front has stalled over our area with moderate to heavy precipitation, easing later this morning.

    Moisture stream is heading right for our zone.

    Sunday night into Monday.

    Flow continues into Monday.

ARTICLES:

1British, and 1 German killed in Swiss Avalanches: Canton of Valais

Weighing the inherent risks of skiing and snowboarding: Daliah Singer

Roof avalanche annihilates pedestrian: Syktyvkar

Avalanche Warning issued: Avalanche Canada

Airbags, Good for more than just Avalanches: Mountain Sledder

South Coast Inland Advisory: Avalanche Canada

    Upload at 09:00Hours. Still some showers in the valley.

    Some blue holes passing through Saturday morning before it broke in the valley.

    Cowboy Ridge was visible yesterday morning amongst the high cloud.

    This satellite image was taken during the same time frame as the photo above. 09:00 Hours

    Cloudier to our South around 12:30 hours over the Tantalus Range.

March 28, 2015

    First light Friday March 27, 2015.

    Fog in the valley early Friday morning.

    Broken cloud with some nice light early Friday.

    Alta Lake, Friday morning.

    Overcast later in the day.

    Precipitation began around 17:00 Hours.

    Just before sunset on Friday evening.



Weather Observations for March 28, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -4, Winds were 25-35 KPH from the S
2180 meters      -3, Winds were 35-50 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters      -3, No Data
1835 meters      -1, Winds were 30-45 KPH from the SW
1650 meters       0, 3 cm of new snow,  Base 171 cm, 10 cm above 1800 meters
1550 meters       0, 2 cm of new snow, Base 125 cm, Relative Humidity 100%. 

  660 meters     +5, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +14.4, 2.2 mm recorded on Friday

For the forecast, a warm front is passing through the area early this morning with moderate precipitation easing to light precipitation for the remainder of the day with a freezing level hovering around 1700 meters. We may also experience breaks in the precipitation during the day. A more vigorous front arrives this evening with moderate precipitation and the FL dropping down to around 1500 meters. Several frontal waves will move over the coast from Saturday evening to Monday evening with moderate to heavy precipitation and a fluctuating FL from 1600 meters to 1800 meters. As the cold front passes through Monday evening we could see the FL dropping to 1400 meters. The flow will switch around during this period between Southerly and Westerly flow aloft. From Tuesday to Friday next week a broad upper level trough will bring showery cool conditions to the area. Guesstimates: 5-8 cm for Sunday morning above 1600 meters, 20-30 cm for Monday morning above 1800 meters,  30-40 cm for Tuesday morning above 1700 meters.

   As of 07:00 Hours this am we have overcast skies and variable visibility, snowing lightly.

    Precipitation should ease to showers during the day until the next front arrives this evening.

    Still a fair bit of moisture forecasted for today.

    Westerly flow for Sunday.

    Continued precipitation into Monday.

    Begins to break up for Tuesday.

    Big picture from yesterday, lots of moisture heading our way!!

    Cooler temperatures for early next week.


ARTICLES:

Skier in serious condition after triggering an avalanche: Sunshine, Alberta

Snowmobilers involved in an avalanche on Boulder Mountain: Revelstoke Area

Recent snow closes Highway 1: Revelstoke

Vail gets the go ahead to create the largest ski resort in the USA: Park City and Canyons

Ski Patrol trigger colossal avalanche in Andorra: Pyrenees

   Wedge through the valley fog, Friday morning.

    Wedge above the fog layer.

    Alta lake Friday morning.

    Ski out deteriorating quickly with the warm temperatures.

    Still snow on lower Dave Murray but need to walk the last 100 meters.

    Skunk Cabbage is thriving in these conditions.

March 27, 2015

    08:30 Hours Thursday March 26, 2015.

    Conditions deteriorated as the early morning progressed.

    Valley perspective early Thursday morning.

    Rain showers around 10:30 Hours.

    Drier and some breaks in the afternoon.

    Just before sunset on Thursday.



Weather Observations for March 27, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters       0, Winds were 30-40 KPH from the SSE
2180 meters     +2, Winds were 30-40 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters     +3, Winds were 20-30 KPH from the E
1835 meters     +5, Winds were 15-40 KPH from the S
1650 meters     +3, No new snow,  Base 177 cm
1550 meters     +4, No new snow, Base 126 cm, Relative Humidity 85%. 

  660 meters     +2, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +13.1, 2.0 mm recorded on Thursday

    As of 07:00 Hours this am we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility with fog in the valley.

For the forecast, dry stable conditions this morning with a a mix of sun and cloud, increasing cloud later today with the chance of some showers as the cold front moves onto the coast in a Southerly flow. Freezing levels will remain high this morning (2500 meters) dropping to 1900 meters this evening. We will receive heavy precipitation for a brief period Friday night easing to light precipitation by Saturday morning, with cloudy conditions. The high to the South of our area will push a plume of moisture into our area for Saturday evening into Sunday with heavy precipitation and and a dropping FL which will fluctuate from a high of 1800 meters on Saturday to a low of 1500 meters on Sunday in a Westerly Flow. Another cold front is forecasted for Monday with heavy precipitation and similar Fl with a high of 1800 meters and a low of 1600 meters. As of now it looks like we will have cooler temperatures and showery weather for the beginning of next week.
Guesstimates: 10-15 cm above 1700 meters by Saturday morning, 15-20 cm above 1500 meters by Sunday morning, 20-40 cm above 1500 meters by Monday morning, 30-50 cm above 1600 meters by Tuesday morning.

    Satellite image from yesterday at noon.

    Big picture yesterday at noon.

    Subtropical moisture and warm temperatures once again. Lots of moisture in the Pacific.

    Cold front arriving this evening.

    Moisture continues for Saturday.

    Another cold front for Monday.


VIDEO FRIDAYS:

Snowmobile river Step Up: Slednecks

Getting a face Shot on a Mountain Bike: Ludo May

Winning Run--Swatch Freeride World Tour: Haines,AK

Proximity Flying: Vimeo





ARTICLES:

Coast Mountain Backcountry Report: March 23 & 24, 2015

Aspen snowpack dust-free for the first March in a decade: Colorado

Meteorologist David Jones's Take on the weather: March 26, 2015

The Art of Skinning, Part1--An Education: John Robinson IV

Mysterious Ski Art baffles Ski Patrol: Austria

    A brief glimpse yesterday morning.

    Broken by Thursday mid-day.

    Later yesterday afternoon.

   Double dating.