May 27, 2016

    Low and high cloud around Thursday morning, May 26, 2016.

   Saw 4 bears on the upload yesterday morning. top of the Wizard Chair.

    Mostly overcast for much of the day.

    At times the cloud gave obscured visibility at mid mountain.

   Very light flurries at around noon.

    Rain began to fall at around 18:00 Hours in the valley.

    Rained hard at around 19:30 Hours in Alpine Meadows. 5.7 mm recorded at 1550 meters in 12 Hr.

    Fresh snow and unsettled weather Thursday evening, 20:45 hours.


Weather Observations for May 27, 2016: taken at 07:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -3, Winds were 10-15 KPH S --Horstman Hut
1860 meters      0, Winds were   5-10 KPH S --Rendevous
1550 meters      0, trace of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 95 cm Base, RH 99%

  660 meters    +6, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +14.3. 3.3 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 08:00 Hrs this am we have broken cloud with variable visibility.

    Looking south-southwest this morning from Whistler Mountain.



For the forecast, a series of short wave troughs emanating from the low will bring unsettled weather with periods of rain through Sunday with a FL fluctuating from 1600-2200 meters. The upper flow is Northwesterly with a cooler air mass and snow expected in the upper elevations. For today, unsettled this morning becoming cloudier in the afternoon with the chance of some intermittent isolated showers. The next cool moist trough will arrive likely Saturday afternoon with some light precipitation. Sunday will see yet another cool moist trough push through with light to moderate precipitation, there is a chance of some thunder and lightning Sunday afternoon with breaks in its wake. Unsettled weather for Monday as the ridge gains some influence, strengthening for Tuesday for a mostly sunny day.

    Large upper level low will send several weak upper level shortwave troughs our way into Sunday.

    A little drier today, with some unsettled weather in the morning.

    More cloud this afternoon with a drying trend in the evening.

    Unsettled Saturday morning with cool moist overcast conditions for the afternoon.

    Low brings wet weather Sunday, exits the area on Monday.

   High builds for Tuesday into Wednesday.



VIDEO FRIDAY:

Avi Escape: Sammy C

Four Girls ski the Matterhorn: East Face

Couloir Skiing: Argentina




ARTICLES:

Global Warming--Spring Snow a No Go: Science Daily

Remote avalanche control system kept Berthound Pass open all winter: Colorado

Working Guide's Guide to Ski Touring Gear: Go Light, Do it Right


Statistics from April 2007-April 2016, data taken at 660 meters-Nesters Weather Station:

Date            MM of Precipitation                    Max Avg Temp

2007                     64.3                                              9.8
2008                     24.2                                              8.7
2009                     41.8                                            11.4
2010                     93.7                                            10.6
2011                     26.8                                              7.3
2012                     86.2                                            10.5
2013                     46.8                                            10.8
2014                     45.0                                            10.9
2015                     29.5                                            11.6
2016                     34.5                                            16.3

Just a bit warmer in 2016!!

    10:15 Thursday morning

    15:15 Hours Thursday afternoon

    Big picture Thursday afternoon.

    More bear sightings on the download at the end of the day. Base 2.

    Visibility was challenging at times.

    But there was some decent visibility for most of the day.

    Fresh snow on Whistler Peak Thursday evening. Weather system on the exit.

May 26, 2016

   An avalanche on Mount Lawson has killed a mountaineer in Alberta, Article below--KPS Photo

    Crust recovery was minimal on Wednesday May 25, 2016. Softened quickly!

    Unsettled in the morning with more blue than white.

    Some early turns.

    More cloud as the morning progressed.

    Lots of folks in the park.

    More cloud later in the day.

Weather Observations for May 26, 2016: taken at 07:00 Hours.

2240 meters      0, Winds were 15-20 KPH S     --Horstman Hut
1860 meters    +2, Winds were 10-15 KPH SSE--Rendevous
1550 meters    +4, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 98 cm Base, RH 86%

  660 meters  +11, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +20.8. 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 08:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies and variable visibility.

   There are some dark clouds out there this am.


For the forecast, an upper trough will bring mostly cloudy conditions to the area for today in a Westerly flow aloft. Unsettled early this morning with sunny breaks and the FL hovering in the 2000 meter range. Clouds will move in quickly with the chance of some isolated showers today.  The FL should drop to around 1600 meters by tonight with the chance of a dusting of fresh snow in the alpine. There is also a chance of some thunderstorm activity later in the day.  Friday is looking similar with mostly overcast skies and the possibility of some isolated intermittent showers. The air mass appears to be fairly dry but this will change by Saturday afternoon as the next upper level trough brings moisture into the area. Moderate to heavy rain will likely occur for Saturday night into Sunday. Ridging will return for Monday with some unsettled conditions prior to sunny weather for Tuesday into Wednesday with warmer temperatures.

    More cloud as the day progresses.

    Low pressure sending cool upper level trough our way.

    Unsettled for this morning with the chance of some showers later in the day.

    Later in the day. More cloud and a better chance of some showers.

    Flow into the weekend. Saturday evening and Sunday are looking wet.

    Unsettled again Friday with cool onshore flow.

ARTICLES:

Solo Scrambler has been killed in an avalanche on Mount Lawson: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Capturing snow depths by using drones: Switzerland

Why some climate processes are more effective at warming Earth: Science Daily

    10:45 Hours Wednesday morning

   16:15 Hours Wednesday afternoon.

    Big picture Wednesday at 16:15 Hours.

    Early morning ride.

    Many sightseers.

    Chateau golf course is looking great!

    Ploughing of the road to the top of Whistler should almost be finished.

    Under the Wizard Chair.

May 25, 2016

    Ground hog day, in the cloud again Tuesday May 24, 2016.

    Visibility was less than desirable.

    There was some blue sky above 2000 meters. Powder Mountain.

    Looking Southwest.

    View North.

    Black Tusk---Info on this Stratovolcano

    Visibility did improve later in the afternoon at closing, briefly!!

    Started breaking at around 17:00 Hours in the valley.



Weather Observations for May 25, 2016: taken at 07:00 Hours.

2240 meters      0, Winds were 5-10 KPH W --Horstman Hut
1860 meters    +3, Winds were   0-5 KPH W --Rendevous
1550 meters    +4, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 100 cm Base, RH 97%

  660 meters  +10, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +14.7. 0.2 mm of Precip recorded yest

Clearing should bring some decent crust recovery this am.

    As of 08:00 Hrs we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.

    Mid level cloud should rise as the morning progresses.



For the forecast, a mix of sun and cloud for today with a low level onshore flow and light Northwesterly flow aloft. Cloud cover should increase with the onshore flow later today, the air mass appears to be fairly dry. The FL will likely hover in the 2200 meter range.  The upper trough in the area will bring overcast conditions and the chance of some intermittent showers for Thursday. The low to the North will slide through the zone Friday bringing unsettled weather to the area for the weekend with cool showery spring like conditions.  A weak ridge may bring some sunny breaks in the unsettled pattern for Sunday into Monday. The ridge should strengthen for Tuesday with mostly sunny skies.

    IR image from 06:00 Hrs this am.

    This image was also taken at 06:00 Hrs.

    500 MB projection into Saturday.

     Cool trough will bring unsettled conditions to the area today.

    Onshore flow for today with unsettled conditions.

    Low moves through Thursday into Friday.

    Mostly cloudy Friday with some possible breaks.

    Overcast Sunday.

    Ridge strengthens for Tuesday.



ARTICLES:

Professional climbers cannot believe what is happening on Everest: New York Times

Despite the dangers, hundreds want to climb Everest: CNN

Your Flaws my Fix: Avalanche changes life path

Backcountry Skiing for Beginners--The Gear: Just a Colorado Gal

    11:00 Hrs Tuesday morning.

    13:15 Hours

    13:15 Hours

   Looking into Horstman Glacier above the cloud layer.

   Top pf Whistler mountain Wednesday afternoon .

    There were some cool clouds around at 17:00 Hours.

    Black Tail deer under the Wizard Chair.