August 14, 2015

   An avalanche in the Hector Mtns of New Zealand has claimed a heli-skier-story below. Net Pic

    Tuesday August 11, 2015--Smoke and Haze to the North early in the am.

    Satellite image from Tuesday morning.

    Just before sunset on Tuesday evening, very little firn snow left in Blackcomb Bowl.

    Wednesday August 12, 2015--It was +18 by 09:00 Hours at 2200 meters.

    Big picture Wednesday morning.

    Thursday August 13, 2015--Slightly better visibility than Wednesday.

    Satellite image from Thursday morning.


Weather Observations for August 14, 2015: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters      +11, Winds were 15-20 KPH from the S
1835 meters      +14, Winds were 10-20 KPH from the SSE
1650 meters      +13, Relative Humidity 74%

  660 meters      +13, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +30.6, trace of rain recorded yest.

    As of 07:00 Hours this am we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility.

    Satellite image from this am at 07:15 Hours.

For the forecast, the low pressure is slowly working its way up the coast with an increase in the cloud cover. Showers and lightning are being reported South of the US boarder as the moist unstable airmass in a Southerly flow just off the northern California coast approaches at about 30-50 KPH. The low will remain for Saturday with showers expected in our zone as well as cooler temperatures. A ridge of high pressure will move in from the Eastern Pacific on Sunday for dry and warm conditions into next week.

    Low will move Northeastward today and is a moist unstable airmass.

    High pressure in the Eastern Pacific will move back into our zone by Sunday.




Video Fridays:

Special wrapping used to prevent glacier melt: Switzerland

When everything goes the wrong way: Bicycle Race in Utah

Who needs a helicopter: Bush Plane STOL

Summer Avalanche down the Plain of Six Glaciers: Lake Louise, Alberta

Free Solo Slackline Record: Squamish, B.C.



Articles:

Heli-skier dies in an avalanche near Queenstown: New Zealand

Update on New Zealand Avalanche: Latest article and video

Avalanche expert plans survey of Himalayas in the fall: Japan

Solar Powered avalanche resistant home for Himalayan trekkers: Architecture Competition

Ortovox recalls S1+ (again): Earn Your Turns

    Sunset Tuesday evening.

    Smoke and haze looking towards Pemberton from 1835 meters on Whistler Mtn Wednesday.

    Rockfall in Glacier Cirque on Whistler will certainly speed up the melting process of the firn snow.

    Black Tusk Thursday morning.

    Overlord Glacier Thursday morning.

    Round House on Whistler Thursday August 13, 2015.

    Up close and personal with a marmot on Whistler Mountain.

    Young deer in the Bike Park.

August 10, 2015

    Friday morning started out as a cloudy day, but lots of sunshine in the valley, hi of 23.9.

    Saturday morning had a wet look, only 1.9 mm of rain recorded on Saturday at 660 meters.

    Satellite image from Saturday morning.

    Cloudy on Sunday morning but another nice day in the valley with a hi of +23.5.

    Broken cloud all day Sunday.

    Sunset was at 20:43 on Sunday evening.  We are losing 3 minutes of daylight per day!

    Early Monday morning, August 10, 2015. Looking like a nice day.

Weather Observations for August 10, 2015: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters      +8, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the E
1835 meters      +8, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the ENE
1650 meters      +8, Relative Humidity 80%

  660 meters      +9, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +23.5, 0.5 mm of rain recorded yest.

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

    Broken cloud in our zone this morning as of 07:00 Hours.

We have been experiencing cooler temperatures (3-5 degrees cooler than seasonal values) and a shift in the atmospheric circulation with the high pressure moving away giving room for troughing in the Eastern Pacific. Even with these changes recorded rain at the Nester's weather station has totalled 10.5 mm so far in August.


For the forecast, the trough over the area on Saturday moved through our zone faster than forecasted last week bringing a fairly nice day to the area on Sunday. The upper low is now well offshore of Vancouver Island but we will see some residual cloud in the area this morning. The high will rebuild with warmer temperatures and we should see sunny skies over the area into Thursday. The forecast is for the low to move further South then migrate back North by Thursday evening with wet conditions into Friday and unsettled weather for Saturday. Only time will tell, more on that in Friday's post.

    Low moved offshore quickly yesterday giving us a fairly nice day. 0.5 mm of rain very early Sun.

    Low is moving South today with some residual cloud but the high is building back into our zone.

    Looking warm and sunny Tuesday.

    Warmer still on Wednesday as the high strengthens.

    Low may starting migrating Northwards by Friday.



ARTICLES:

Melting glacier's reveal missing climbers: Switzerland

Three Ski Instructors found guilty after avalanche death: Tignes, France

What happens when a rainforest burns: Washington State

    Friday morning was awesome, clouds rolled in by the end of the day.

    Some action Saturday.

    Nice day for the Enduro on Sunday.

    High cloud early Monday morning.

August 7, 2015

    Skier has died in an avalanche in Chile--Story in article Section.  Nevados de Chillan  Net Pic            

    Early Tuesday July 28, 2015--Nice day!!

   Cloud development over the Tantalus Range July 28, 2015--Went off the grid on July 29 Th.

    Satellite image from Tuesday August 4, 2015.

    A relatively nice day on Tuesday.

    Cloudy Wednesday August 5, 2015.

    Wednesday was a wet day, 7.4 mm of rain recorded at 660 meters.

    Sunset Wednesday evening, cooler weather with some moisture-- good for the forest!!

    Satellite image taken at the same time as image below, noon on Thursday, August 6, 2015.

    Mostly cloudy, +7 with a SSW wind 5-15 KPH.

    Broken cloud Thursday evening.


Weather Observations for August 7, 2015: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters      +5, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the NNW
1835 meters      +6, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the SW
1650 meters      +6, Relative Humidity 100%

  660 meters      +8, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +20, trace of rain recorded yest.

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

   This am image shows the potential for cloud to move into the area today.

For the forecast, mostly sunny skies early this morning with increasing high cloud for today as a weak high pressure builds with a light Northwest flow, for a short period of time before a weak cold front and associated trough move into there area early Saturday morning. The trough will stall and linger over our area bringing cooler temperatures and cloudy conditions into early next week in a weak Westerly flow. There is a chance of some scattered showers with the likelihood of that happening on Sunday morning. Still cannot rule out some isolated intermittent showers into next Tuesday.  Temperatures will remain below the normal seasonal values. Models are in disagreement to when the trough will move away but at this time it may remain until Wednesday. More on that in Monday's post.

    Clouds moving into the area today.

    Ridge trying to push back but clouds will be here by tomorrow morning.

    Cloudy on Sunday with a chance of some showers.

    High is moving Eastward, low is pushing a trough our way.



VIDEO FRIDAY'S:

Two Bodies recovered in New Zealand Avalanche: Quebec Students

Riding a dirt bike on waves: Tahiti

Ice Berg rolling over and breaking up: Newfoundland



ARTICLES:

Skier dies in a Chillan Avalanche: Snowbrains

Bodies recovered from New Zealand Avalanche: Canadian Students Recovered

Recco streamlines helicopter rescue for avalanches: Gizmag

Avalanche victims in New Zealand believed to have been caught in avalanche on: July 9 Th

Glaciers melting faster than ever!!: Science Daily

Avalanches and the Law: WSL

Lake Louise Ski Resort expansion approved: CBC News

    North East aspect of Rainbow Glacier is disappearing.

    July 31, 2015--Blue Moon over the Brook's Peninsula

    Full moon was officially at 03:43 Hours, July 31, 2015.

    Brooks Peninsula in the background.

    Coastal Black Bear--Side Bay, North of the Brooks Peninsula.

    Sunrise Side Bay--Vancouver Island.

    Bright night sky, Winter Harbour on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

    Eagle at the mouth of the Macjack River, Raft Cove Provincial Park.

    August 2, 2015-- Sunset at Raft Cove-- Northwest on Vancouver Island.

    Greater Yellow Legs taken at Raft Cove. Info on this bird

    Wolf tracks South of Raft Cove.

    Clouds over the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday August 4, 2015.

    Sunset over Savary and Hernando Islands August 4, 2015.

    Some cloud clinging to the local peaks on Thursday evening.