September 12, 2016

    Last weeks weather, this week's forecast and some interesting articles below:

    An avalanche incident in NZ (Mt Taranaki) while rescuing some trampers, story below--Net Pic

    Monday afternoon, Sept 5 trace of precipitation recorded at 660 meters--2.0 mm at 1550 meters.

    Tuesday Sept 6, 2016--Multiple cloud layers but a fairly dry day, only 0.4 mm recorded at 660 M.

    Image from Tuesday morning, moisture to the East and South. Significant marine layer burned off.

    Tuesday was a fairly nice day with a mix of sun and cloud.

    Wednesday September 7, 2016--1.2 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Image from same time frame as above.

    Cloudy day on Wednesday.

    Thursday Sept 8, 2016

    Image Thursday afternoon, weather improved as the day progressed.

    Mostly sunny on Thursday.

    New BMX track.

    Friday September 9, 2016--Exactly 13 Hours of day light, Sunrise 06:39 Sunset 19:39 Hrs.

    Satellite image from Friday morning.

    Thin dark cloud on Friday afternoon.

    Saturday Morning September 10, 2016

    Cloudy on Saturday but dry, image from Saturday afternoon.

    Cloudy most of the day on Sat. High was 21.2 deg at 660 meters. Clouds dissipated by sunset.

    Sunday Sept 11, 2016-- +2 at 1860 meters. High pressure has arrived.

    Sunday morning.

    Scattered cloud Sunday morning, sunrise was at 06:42 Hrs. Still losing 4 min of daylight per day.


Weather Observations for September 12, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters       0, Winds were 15-30 KPH E --Horstman Hut
1835 meters     +2, Winds were  15-30 KPH S --Roundhouse
1550 meters     +5, RH 60%  0.0 mm of rain    --Catskinner

  660 meters     +3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +19.6 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 06:30 Hrs this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.

    Big picture--Big High Monday Morning.


For the forecast, a strong offshore upper level ridge builds bringing summer weather back to Southern BC. Offshore flow will bring warm temperatures for today into Tuesday. Low level flow should shift on Wednesday to onshore bringing cooler but dry conditions into next weekend. Enjoy!! Will update the weekend forecast on Wednesday or Thursday!! Possible for some moisture to reach us by Sunday, super Typhoon Meranti could possibly add more moisture to the North Pacific flow by the weekend.

Update: Cloudy Friday with showers beginning Friday afternoon into the evening. A cold font moves onshore Friday evening with light to moderate rain for Saturday. Showers for Sunday with cooler temperatures.

    Cold front moving in Friday night with rain for Saturday.

    Mostly cloudy with rain showers Sunday.

    Strong upper level ridge for today.

    Offshore flow will bring warm temperatures to the area by this afternoon.

    Tuesday will also see warm temperatures as the high strengthens.

    High continues into Wednesday.

    Light onshore flow for  Tuesday/Wednesday should bring slightly cooler temperatures.

    Models are not in agreement for Friday/Saturday at this time but it certainly looks dry.

    There is a low forecasted to influence the area by next Saturday. Some clouds possible by Friday.

    High pressure dominates the pattern into next weekend. Typhoon Meranti is the wild card.



ARTICLES:

Avalanche hits hikers while being rescued: Mt Taranaki, NZ

Strong to moderate La Nina now unlikely: NOAA

Aspen is serious about uphill skiing business: Backcountry Skiing Blog

Tug of war keeps scientists working on storm tracks: Science Daily

A recent avalanche advisory from down under: New Zealand

More information on the massive ice avalanche that occurred on July 7, 2016: Tibet

Grant awarded to Avalanche Canada Foundation: Calgary Foundation

Early season faceted snow issues?--New Device: The Compaction Roller

    Monday was a cloudy day.

    Tuesday--Green Lake.

    Old man winter seems to have a runny nose, must mean a good winter on the way!!

    Thursday--Mount Fee.

    Suspension Bridge to Train Wreck (click for info), an awesome addition to Whistler's hiking trails.

    Thursday--Cheakamus River below Train Wreck Suspension Bridge.

    Friday evening--sun came out just before sunset.

    Saturday afternoon, mix of sun and cloud.

    Some cloud Sunday but an awesome day with high of 19.6 Deg at 660 meters.

September 5, 2016

    September begins with the first signs of fall. Snow in the upper elevations!!

    Monday August 29, 2016--cloudy in the afternoon. 0.3 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Tuesday August 30, 2016--Unsettled but a nice day.

    Most of the precip on Tuesday was to the North.

    Husume Chute off in the distance.

    Early Wednesday morning--7.3 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Wednesday morning--Wet all the way down the coast.

    Big picture Wednesday hurricane-Madeline & Lester heading for Hawaii--Fujiwhara Effect

    A break in the clouds Wednesday afternoon.

    Thursday morning September 1, 2016. 7.8 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Thursday morning--More precipitation on the way.

    Looking over Green Lake Thursday morning.

    Fresh snow in the mountains on Friday morning, -0.8 Deg recorded at 2240 meters. 4.8 mm at 660

    Satellite image from Friday morning.

    Broken cloud in Victoria on Friday morning.

    Saturday Sept 3, 2016--snow melted but the temperature as of 07:00 Hrs was -0.3 Deg at 2240M

    Image from Saturday morning, broken cloud in the afternoon over Georgia Strait.

    Olympic Peninsula Saturday morning..

    Sunday Morning, September 4, 2016. Northerly flow with cool temperatures and a drying trend.

    Sunday morning's Image.

    Still some fresh snow in the upper elevations on Sunday. A mix of sun and cloud most of the day.


Weather Observations for September 5, 2016: taken at 07:00 Hours.

2240 meters     +1, Winds were 22-25 KPH S --Horstman Hut
1860 meters     +3, Winds were   5-10 KPH S --Rendevous
1550 meters     +5, RH 94%  0.2 mm of rain    --Catskinner

  660 meters     +9, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +18.9. 0.4 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies with variable visibility.

   Thicker clouds on the way, Monday morning..


For the forecast, yet another upper low out of the Gulf of Alaska in a Northwesterly flow aloft will bring unsettled weather to the area for the beginning of the week. The low looks like it will shift East before coming too far down the coast, but it will be sending cooler weather our way this week. Today we can expect mostly cloudy skies with isolated showers in the morning, with light rain by this afternoon into Tuesday morning. Wednesday is looking like the wettest day with light to moderate precipitation with the passage of a moist front. A drying trend on Thursday/Friday before another upper level low moves down the coast into our zone for Saturday. There is a slight chance the high may have some influence by next weekend but looking unlikely. Lots going on so difficult to determine any pattern, very unsettled.. Update September 7Th--Dry upper level trough moving in for Sunday in a Northerly flow aloft with the upper level ridge building for Monday into Wednesday of next week. Yeah, some more nice weather!!

    Flow for this week, mostly Northwesterly. A couple of lows on the way.

    Unsettled this morning showers later today.

   Some rain for Tuesday.

    Drying out Thursday/Friday.

    Another upper level low for next weekend with unsettled weather.

    Looks like some rain for next Saturday.

    Update September 7, 2016--Forecast is changing-Looking good for Sunday into next week.

    High pressure strengthening and should see influence as early as Sunday. Nice early next week.

 

Some maximum temperature and precipitation data for August 2007-2016.

 July               Avg Max Temp         Precipitation

2016                     +25.0                         20.8 mm
2015                     +24.2                         94.8 mm
2014                     +25.9                           2.8 mm
2013                     +23.4                         80.6 mm
2012                     +25.4                         14.3 mm
2011                     +23.2                         21.2 mm
2010                     +23.7                         31.7 mm
2009                     +23.6                         33.9 mm
2008                     +22.5                         94.2 mm
2007                     +22.2                         71.6 mm



ARTICLES:

Youth Tool Box Program for teachers and instructors: Avalanche Canada

Avalanche filmed in Zanskar: India

20,000 cubic meter ice avalanche on the Eiger: Switzerland

Vail Resorts expands Epic pass to include European Resorts: A Mountain Journey

Why is snow white coloured?: Science ABC

Can cloud seeding help snowmaking?: Planetski

    Monday morning had some great sunny breaks and cool clouds.

    Horstman Creek Tuesday.

    Northeast aspect of Rainbow Glacier, the last few weeks have seen the summer firn melt fast.

    A few blue patches Wednesday Afternoon. 7.3 mm of rain recorded at 660 meters.

    Howe Sound Thursday.

    Fauna Flora creation in Victoria. Orcas surfing a bow wave!

    Wooden Boat Show in Victoria, eventually the clouds dissipated for an awesome day on Friday.

    Clouds over the lower mainland Saturday afternoon.

    Rumbling Glacier Saturday evening.

    Busy Sunday afternoon. Showers later in the day, 0.4 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Fresh dusting has given the glaciers a bit of a face lift.