February 7, 2016

    An avalanche in Austria has killed 5 people after a large group was buried, story in article section.

      Sz 2.5 out of Sun Bowl yesterday, cornice drop from avalanche control created a slab avalanche

    Fracture line at 1900 meters NE aspect on Jan 28 Ifrc/Fc.                                Tim Haggerty Photos

    First lift up yesterday morning.

    Awesome conditions.

    Unsettled for most of the day with some great light.

    Some wind affect near Cowboy Ridge. Maximum winds during storm--180 KPH.

   Avalanche control on WB yesterday produced mostly Sz 1.5 to 2 Xe storm slab, 1 Sz 2.5 Pers Slab.

    When it snows the riders will come!!

    Fitting end to an awesome day.


Weather Observations for February 7, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -7, Winds were 25-45 KPH SSE     --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters     -8, Winds were 25-30 KPH SSW    --Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -5, Winds were 10-12 KPH SE        --Rendevous
1835 meters     -5, Winds were 10-30 KPH SSE      --Roundhouse
1650 meters     -5, trace of new snow, 2 cm in 24 hrs, 245 cm Base, RH 92%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters     -5, 0 cm of new snow, 2 cm in 24 hrs, 198 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +4.0. 5.2 mm of Precip recorded

   As of 07:00 Hrs we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility.


For the forecast, a weak warm front this morning will give us mostly overcast skies with the chance of some very light precipitation. The Freezing level is expected to gradually rise today and reach 2000+ meters by this evening. A very warm high pressure system from the South will bring unsettled conditions to our zone for Monday thru Tuesday with a mix of sun and cloud in a dry air mass. The FL will reach well above the local peaks (high as 3800 meters) for Monday into Tuesday.  An upper level low forms over the NE Pacific for Wednesday, a warm front will push into our zone in the morning with light precipitation and a FL of around 2000 meters which will gradually drop to 1700 meters by the evening. The remainder of the week looks warm and wet. Stay tuned for possible changes as the week progresses. Guesstimates: 1-3 cm by Monday morning.

Natural avalanches up to Sz 3 were observed in the Sea to Sky Corridor yesterday during the storm, avalanche control on WB did produce soft slabs with Xe and Sc yesterday morning, Sz 1-2.

    Overcast this morning into this evening, ridge builds tomorrow.

    Clouds moving in this morning.

    High pressure moves In Monday and Tuesday.

    Warm and dry for Monday, with some broken cloud.

   Warm front for Wednesday.

    Warm and wet Thursday into Friday.


ARTICLES:

Massive Avalanche in the Austrian Alps has killed 5 people: Wattener Lizum Region

17 Czech Ski Tourers did not heed hut keepers warning: Tyrol, Austria

More info on the snow biker that was killed in an avalanche: Colorado

Avalanches make for a deadly January in North America: Pique

Avalanche warning this Family Day Weekend for backcountry enthusiasts: CKNW News

ACMG Mountain Conditions Report: February 6, 2016

   Satellite image from yesterday morning.

    Lots going on in the Pacific.

    High pressure will deflect lows to the North of our Zone.

    A new surface.

    Some of the steeps were filled in nicely.

    Skier cross on Blackcomb was well attended.

    Snow quality yesterday was as good as it gets!!

    Blackcomb Bowl at sunset.

February 6, 2016

    

    A snow biker has been killed in an avalanche in Colorado, story in article section.        CAIC Photo

    Strong winds most of the day. Crystal did open for a while then the winds increased in the PM.

    Tree skiing at 1300 meters was great on Friday, February 5, 2016.

    It rained hard in the valley yesterday.

    Snowing hard at 1200 meters yesterday afternoon.

    Wet snow fell at 1000 meters all day.

    Considering the lift closures the lift lines were pretty good.


Weather Observations for February 6, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -9, Winds were 30-40 KPH SSW   --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters     -9, Winds were 40-60 KPH SSW   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -8, Winds were 10-25 KPH SE       --Rendevous
1835 meters     -6, Winds were 25-45 KPH SW      --Roundhouse
1650 meters     -6, 40 cm of new snow, 60 cm in 24 hrs, 248 cm Base, RH 100%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters     -5, 34 cm of new snow, 52 cm in 24 hrs, 206 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.2. 24.7 mm of Precip recorded

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have broken skies, variable visibility and snowing very lightly.


For the forecast, a weak upper trough will pass through early this am with the possibility of some isolated flurries in a Northwesterly flow with unsettled conditions. A weak ridge will build during the day with offshore flow and some clouds in the mix. On Sunday a weak warm front brushes our zone with overcast conditions, snow flurries in the morning changing to rain showers in the afternoon with a FL starting at 1000 meters rising to 2200 meters by Sunday night. Monday at this time is looking unsettled in the morning, with some rain showers in the pm and a FL reaching 3000+ meters. The ridge will rebuild Monday night with some sunshine and cloud + warm temperatures for Tuesday. Another weak warm front moves onshore for Wednesday, but more on that as we get closer.

    Ridging will bring unsettled conditions for today.

    System moved East by sunrise.

    Ridging for Tuesday with warm temperatures moving in from the South.  Front for Wednesday.



ARTICLES:

A snow biker was killed in an avalanche yesterday in Colorado: CAIC

Avalanche Canada renewing calls for safety as intense storm pummels the South Coast: Vancouver

Avalanche wipes out snow measuring equipment: Nevada

Man injured in an avalanche near Jackson Hole: Disappointment Peak

Avalanche control will cause delays today on several BC Highways: InfoNews.ca

Avalanche victim couldn't deploy airbag in time in fatal slide: Montana

    Awesome system yesterday. Cold enough to keep the snow line at 750 meters.

    Front with a Southerly draw yesterday.

    Almost snowing at Base 2.

    Even JC was closed by 15:00 Hours. 80-90 KPH winds at 1860 meters. 100-180 KPH at 2240 M.

    Dumping in the afternoon at 1000 meters.

    From 06:30 to 14:30 yesterday, we received 18 cm at 1550 meters on Blackcomb. 188 cm Base.

    Tree skiing yesterday was very good!!!

February 5, 2016

    Avalanche in Northern India has killed 10 soldiers, story below.                                          Net Pic

    07:30 Thursday February 4, 2016--Amazing what 12 cm of new will do!!

    Snowing very lightly at 1100 meters yesterday morning. Trace was recorded at 1550 M at 14:00 Hr

     It did get dry and we had some decent light in the morning.

    The 12 cm's was skiing well.

    Visibility in the alpine was challenging at times.

    Snowing lightly near the end of the day. Started at around 15:00 Hours.


Weather Observations for February 5, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -5, Winds were 55-85 KPH SSE     --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters     -5, Winds were 40-65 KPH SSW    --Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -4, Winds were 40-60 KPH ESE     --Rendevous
1835 meters     -2, Winds were 15-45 KPH SE       --Roundhouse
1650 meters     -1, trace of new snow, 1 cm in 24 hrs, 208 cm Base, RH 85%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters      0, 2 cm of new snow, 3 cm in 24 hrs, 178 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters     +1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +2.8. 1.4 mm of Precip recorded

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing less than 1 cm/hr.

For the forecast, a warm front will move through this morning, followed by a more vigorous cold front in the afternoon. The freezing level will hopefully hover around 1500 meters this morning and slowly descend to 800 meters by this evening with the passing of the front. We will be in a Southwesterly flow in the morning changing to Westerly as the cold front moves in, later in the evening/early morning the flow is forecasted to switch to Northwesterly. Saturday will bring an unsettled day with a mix of sun, cloud and morning flurries with very weak ridging. Sunday will also be unsettled with the chance of a short lived weak front brushing the area in the afternoon, unsettled again later in the afternoon with warm air associated with the ridging. The FL could go as high as the local peaks Sunday night into Monday morning. The ridge will strengthen for Monday into Tuesday with warm temperatures and scattered cloud. Another front will move onshore for Wednesday.  Guesstimates: 20-30 cm by Saturday morning--We may get up to 40 +, depends on the flow!!

    Looking good!!!!!

 Early Friday morning.

    Friday afternoon.

     Cools down Saturday with unsettled conditions.

    A weak warm front may clip our zone on Sunday afternoon.




VIDEO FRIDAYS:

Caught in an avalanche while snowmobiling, Jan 23, 2016: Buried

Snowboarder towed by Aerones Drone: You Tube

Hero to Zero: Matt Potratz Story

Mini van crushed by roof avalanche: Russia

Skier caught in Sz 1 in bounds avalanche: Mammoth CA



ARTICLES:

Soldiers in Siachen area confirmed dead: Northern India

Dual concern after deadly avalanche near McBride: CFJC Today

Being prepared for avalanches no replacement for avoidance: Avalanche Canada

Concerns mount over Brohm Ridge Ski Hill proposal: Squamish

Weather controls the avalanche hazard: Jackson Hole News

   Just before noon on Thursday, a few brief breaks.

    Some nice looking clouds heading our way, big picture yesterday just before noon.

    There was even a bit of blue briefly mid-day.

    Thick valley cloud.

    Some plate stellar on the surface.

   There was some challenging light in the afternoon.