November 4, 2016

    Two climbers were swept into a crevasse on Mt Blanc by an avalanche, story below.       Net Pic

    Image of the Brouillard Glacier where the incident occurred.                                                 Net Pic




WEATHER IN THE PAST FEW DAYS:

    Monday afternoon, more snow in the trees.

    Satellite image Monday morning, eventually it did dry up in the afternoon.

    Not much of a view Monday afternoon.

    Tuesday November 1, 2016  -3 at 1835 meters, nice to see the snow makers at work!!

    Big picture Tuesday afternoon.

    Looking like winter Tuesday morning.

    Wednesday morning November 2, 2016  Snowing and 0 Deg at 1835 meters..

    Image from Wednesday morning.

    Snow line slowly descended Wednesday morning. Temps warmed up, 0 Deg at 2240 from 12:30 ->

    Thursday November 3, 2016 -1 at 1835 meters at 07:00 Hrs.

    Image from Thursday morning.

    Thursday afternoon, eventually dried out after showers during most of the day.


Weather Observations for November 4, 2016: taken at 07:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -3, Winds were 50-75 KPH SE --Horstman Hut
1860 meters   +4, Winds were 30-50 KPH SE --Rendevous
1650 meters   +4, RH 45%  1.5 mm of precip  --Pig Alley  Precip from 14:00 Hrs yest

  660 meters   +1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +7.7, 5.1 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:30 Hrs this am we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.

   There is some valley fog.

FOR THE FORECAST-- a break in the weather today but very warm temperatures with the freezing level rising well above the local peaks in a Southwest flow aloft. We will see some cloud development this afternoon as the front moves in from the coast.  A cold front moves through Friday evening with the FL dropping to about 2000 M with moderate to heavy precipitation expected for Saturday. Good chance the FL will stay high for Saturday afternoon (2100 M), with it dropping to 1600 meters Saturday night. The front will move through our zone quickly followed by an upper level trough bringing unsettled weather for Sunday with some light intermittent showers. The FL on Sunday should hover around 1800 meters.  Monday, another warm air mass moves onto the coast by the evening but there are some inconsistencies in the models, looks wet, warm, and windy for Tuesday into Wednesday. More on that in Monday's Post.

    Dry for today, with some warm sunny weather in the morning.

    Should see the next frontal band arrive Friday evening.

   Cold front Friday night , but the FL will likely only drop to 2000 meters.

    Front on Saturday will have some significant precipitation associated with it.

    Fast moving upper level trough for Sunday with some breaks Sunday afternoon.

    Should see a break Sunday afternoon.

    Massive low pressure with strong winds and warm temperatures for early next week.

   Another warm front for Monday but more on that in Monday's Post. Would be nice if it stayed N.

OBSERVATIONS:

Not much to report, avalanche control on Whistler Thursday produced a size 2.5 on Whistler East. Limited observations with 80+ ridge top winds. Not many people venturing out in the windy wet conditions.


Some weather stats for October over the past 10 years, taken at 660 M:

Year                  Precip Amounts          Avg Max Temp          Avg Min Temp

2016                       323.4 mm                   9.2 C                          2.7 C
2015                         67.2 mm                 13.2 C                          4.5 C
2014                       252.6 mm                 12.2 C                          5.7 C
2013                         19.3 mm                 12.5 C                          1.3 C
2012                       189.7 mm                 11.2 C                          2.5 C
2011                         82.5 mm                   9.7 C                          2.1 C
2010                         70.8 mm                 11.9 C                          3.5 C
2009                       151.3 mm                   9.8 C                          1.5 C
2008                       112.6 mm                 10.2 C                          2.1 C
2007                       152.6 mm                   9.5 C                          2.1 C
2006                         65.6 mm                 13.1 C                          1.8 C




VIDEO FRIDAY:

5 Critical Mistakes made in the Mountains: High Fives

In our Backyard: Tantalus

When Worlds Collide: 509 Volume II Trailer

Getting ready for your first tour of the year: AIARE




ARTICLES:

An avalanche on Mount Blanc has killed two climbers: Italy

How has the # of avalanche victims changed over the last 80 years: SLF

With all this warm weather should Colorado Skiers and Snowboarders be worried: Denver Post

Safety Upgrade--Beacon Trade in offers-- $75 Credit: Ortovox

Ten dangers of skiing and how to avoid them: Hix Magazine

Yukon Avalanche Forecasts to rely on mobile app users this season: CBC News

    8.8 mm of precip recorded at 660 meters on Monday.

    Started snowing Tuesday afternoon. 4.2 mm recorded at 660 meters on Tuesday.

    Wednesday morning, by noon the FL spiked to the top.

    Wednesday afternoon, wet snow fell fairly low. 27.0 mm recorded at 660 meters for Wednesday..

    Cloudy but dry Thursday afternoon, 5.1 mm recorded at 660 meters Thursday in the am.

October 31, 2016

    A busy place on top of Metal Dome, Sunday October 30, 2016. (Click for info on Metal Dome)


Weather in the past few days:

    Pinwheeling snow on Friday October 28, 2016. Recent wet loose size 1 slides Friday.

    Moist snow at 1900 meters.

    Friday afternoon.

    Satellite image from Friday.

    Saturday morning October 29, 2016. Unsettled and -1 Deg.

    View from the valley Saturday morning. 4.0 mm of precip recorded at 660 M on Saturday.

    Saturday's Image, it began to precipitate around 11:00 Hrs.

    On Saturday by 11:00 it was snowing lightly and 0 Deg at 1835 meters.

    Sunday morning October 30, 2016 -3 at 1835 meters with another dusting of fresh snow.

    Unsettled for Sunday.

    Sunday--Second call out on Metal Dome for Whitler SAR since Friday, October 28, 2016.

    Happy Halloween, may see some light wet snow flurries this evening in the valley.


Weather Observations for October 31, 2016: taken at 07:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -2, Winds were 30-40 KPH SE --Horstman Hut
1860 meters    -1, Winds were 10-15 KPH S    --Rendevous
1650 meters   +1, RH 97%  2.8 mm of precip   --Pig Alley  Precip from 0:00 Hrs this am

  660 meters   +4, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +6.7 trace of Precip recorded yest

   As of 07:30 Hrs this am we have overcast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing.



For the forecast, another moist day as a weak upper level trough moves through our zone in a Southwest Flow Aloft. The freezing level will fluctuate from 1800 to 1300 meters. As the weak front leaves the area we will see a short lived drying trend into Tuesday before another frontal band arrives Tuesday evening. A more vigorous front arrives for Wednesday evening and continues into Thursday. The FL will spike up to about 2100 meters through the flow and hopefully drop as low as 1800 meters bringing moderate to heavy snow into the alpine. The flow eases on Thursday with another impulse by Thursday night. Friday will also see moderate to heavy precipitation by the evening with the brunt of the frontal band. Saturday at this time is also looking juicy but more on that in Friday's post. Wednesday into Thursday are looking like the warmest period with a cooling trend into the weekend. We could easily accumulate another meter of snow in the alpine from Wednesday into Saturday.


Weather Update: November 1, 2016--Models have been adjusted and it looks like the system that was to arrive Thursday into Friday will stall offshore and we should see a weak ridge of high pressure develop for Friday.

   As of November 1, 2016 models are expecting Ridging for Friday.

    Models from Monday:

   A weakening surface low will track Northeast today.

    Showers and cool temperatures for today.

    Light intermittent showers for Tuesday with a brief drying trend.

    The first of 3 strong fronts Wednesday, the next will be on Friday night. Cold front for Wednesday.

    Warm SW flow Wednesday.

    Warm flow continues into Thursday.

    Active weather Friday into Saturday.



ARTICLES:

Mountains 101-A free on line course: University of Alberta

Transceivers 101 Video: BackcountrySkiingCanada

First Ride Whistler: Mountain Sledder

Stay off the Peaks until offical opening: CBC News



OBSERVATIONS:

    Thanks to Holly Walker, Julie Cossette, and Daniel Robb for the observations below:

Snow profile: Anniversary Glacier - Oct 28, 2016 by DR / JC / HW

Keith's Hut (1650m) has around ~60cm with rain crust. Above 1900m, snow transitions to 'normal' and skinning is easy. Snow profile was taken on 161028 at 16:25, 2135m, NE aspect, incline 22 degrees. Wind was light, Precip nil, Sky few clouds, Foot pen 35cm. Height of snow 162cm down to glacier ice.

Two melt freeze (thin crust) layers at 27cm and 45cm. Otherwise snow was Dry and mainly all Rounds; varying from Fist at top layer (0-7cm); 4 Finger (7-27cm), 1 Finger (28-45cm) and Pencil (46-162cm). CTE9 (RP) down on 13cm (new snow); CTM4 (SP) at 27cm (melt freeze crust); CTM10 (RP) at around 36cm (decomposing fragments); CTH10 (RP) at 53cm.

On Friday/Saturday, we saw no Avalanche activity cause by skiers on Anniversary, Matier and above Keith's Hut (lookers right). Lots of early season hazards still exist, including my weak ski legs. Play safe... More storms are a brewing!

    Tricouni Peak Friday afternoon.

    Looks like good coverage in Blackcomb Bowl. Cornice development along the ridge line!!

    Wedge Mt late Friday afternoon.

    Saturday morning, the snow line is creeping back up the mountain.

    Brandywine area has become the riding area of choice with its easy access.

    A different perspective of Blackcomb on Sunday.

    Snow line back into the trees on Sunday.

    Looking East from Metal Dome.