January 1, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Update on Clemina Creek avalanche in article section.                                                         Net Pic

    Not much avalanche activity locally, Sz 2 cornice control on Whistler.

    YESTERDAY:

    Early Saturday December 31, 2016.

    Valley cloud lifted with some challenging visibility and icing.

    It all started to close in.

    Light snow by mid morning.

    A bit of a grey day.

    Saturday morning.



WEATHER OBSERVATIONS:

Weather Observations for January 1, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -16, Winds were 15-60? KPH N      --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -16, Winds were 70-100 KPH NNW--Whistler Peak
1860 meters   -14, Winds were 40-60   KPH ESE --Rendevous
1835 meters   -14, Winds were 15-30   [KPH NE  --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -12, 6 cm of new snow, 8 cm in 24 hrs, 203 cm Base, RH 98%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -12, 5 cm of new snow, 7 cm in 24 hrs, 130 cm Base, RH 92%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters     -5, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -1.7, 2.1 mm of Precip recorded yest

Temperatures: -16 with a 80 KPH wind brings the windchill to -33.

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am at 1860 m we have obscured skies, variable visibility and snowing lightly.


 FORECAST:

A weak cold upper low will bring mostly overcast skies to the area this morning with temperatures dropping as the day progresses. Northeast offshore flow will bring cold temperatures and outflow winds to the area into at least Thursday evening. Will likely see unsettled weather by this afternoon, with clear cold conditions Monday into Thursday. Snow should return by Thursday night into Friday morning with the FL remaining near sea level. Bundle up, its going to be a cold week.
Guesstimates:1 cm to 3 cm by Monday morning.

    Looking like a cloudy day.

    Upper level low will slowly move South today.

 

    Clearing and cold by this evening.

    Cold air with a modified Arctic Outbreak.



ARTICLES:

Sea to Sky Avalanche Advisory: Avalanche Canada

Update on Clemina Creek Avalanche Fatality: Valemount, B.C.

Avalanche Dog Teams patrol ski resorts ready to save a life: CBC News

Tracking Avalanche Information: The Pique




OBSERVATIONS:

Thomas McGregor December 31 at 10:31pm

Skied mostly Northeast aspects on the Duffey and other than sloughing on steep slopes and a few very minor pockets of windslab of around 20cms depth nothing of significance to report. Nice snow and nice turns.

    Clouds moved into the area quickly Saturday morning.

    Awesome conditions lower on the mountain.

    Nester's weather station.

    Snowing at 660 meters Saturday afternoon.

    Lots of snow in Alpine Meadows at 680 meters.

December 31, 2016

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    A snowmobiler has been killed in an avalanche near Valemount, B.C.-Story Below         Net Pic

    Results from Blackcomb Bowl Friday morning.

    Horstman Glacier.

    Fracture lines were visible from Whistler Mountain--Lakeside Centre and Rock Shot 1

    A different perspective.

    Lakeside Centre.

Avalanche control yesterday on WB produced Sz 1-2.5 results.


YESTERDAY:

    An awesome morning, Friday December 30, 2016.

    Great conditions Friday morning.

    Whistler has the best conditions in the world.

    Bluebird Saturday afternoon.

    Looking South.

    Later in the day.


WEATHER OBSERVATIONS:

Weather Observations for December 31, 2016,: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -8, Winds were 25-45 KPH SW  --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -11, Winds were 20-35 KPH SSW--Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -8, Winds were 10-25 KPH SE   --Rendevous
1835 meters     -5, Winds were 25-35 KPH S      --Roundhouse
1650 meters   -10, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 207 cm Base, RH 98%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters   -10, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 138 cm Base, RH 96%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters     -5, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +4.3, Trace of Precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility. Valley cloud.



FORECAST:

A weak frontal band will eventually pass through our zone today with overcast skies and light snowfall.
The freezing level will remain at the surface with a Southerly Surface flow. Unsettled tomorrow
with a mix of sun and cloud and colder temperatures as the flow becomes Northerly. Cold and dry conditions for early next week with no change expected until at least Friday.
Guesstimates: 4-6 cm by New Years Day

    Weak front for today with some very light snowfall.

    Colder temperatures for tomorrow with a Northerly flow.



ARTICLES:

Snowmobiler killed in an avalanche near Valemount, B.C.: CBC NEWS

Conditions Report for the Coast--December 28, 2016: Mountain Sledder

Search called off for missing snowshoers on Cypress Mountain: Vancouver



OBSERVATIONS:

    Sometimes you have to work for your turns.

    Slough in Blackcomb Glacier.

    So much snow!!!

    Snowmaking will be loving the temperatures next week!!

December 30, 2016

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Sea to Sky avalanche advisory is posted daily outside the Avalanche Hut, at the top of Solar Lift.

Avalanche control yesterday produced numerous Sz 1 very soft slabs ski cutiing and with explosives. Some natural Sz 1 soft slabs were also observed in and around the ski area. 


    YESTERDAY:

    Snowing hard, early Thursday morning, December 29, 2016.

    First lift up 07:00 Hrs.

    Snowing hard early Thursday morning.

    Skiing in the trees was awesome.

    Not often we get storms where its snowing this hard.

    Breaks by 16:00 Hrs.

    Image from Thursday morning, the perfect storm.



WEATHER OBSERVATIONS:

Weather Observations for December 30, 2016,: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   -12, Winds were 10-30 KPH NNW --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters   -10, Winds were 10-30 KPH NW   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -9, Winds were 10-15 KPH NNE  --Rendevous
1835 meters     -5, Winds were 25-35 KPH NNE  --Roundhouse
1650 meters     -9, 1 cm of new snow, 41 cm in 24 hrs, 217 cm Base, RH 98%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters     -8, 1 cm of new snow, 37 cm in 24 hrs, 146 cm Base, RH 95%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters     -2, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was 0.0, 17.9 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have clear skies  and unlimited visibility.



FORECAST:

Brief ridge of high pressure for today with mostly sunny skies. A weak cool upper level low will bring light snow to the area Saturday with the freezing level at surface in a Northerly flow aloft. A high pressure system will bring unsettled weather with cold temperatures to the area for Sunday into early next week.
Guesstimates: 3-6 cm by Sunday morning. No more snow until later next week. Cold temperatures for the weekend!!!

    IR image from this morning.

    Looking like a nice day, some cloud in the morning but eventually bluebird.

    Weak front for Saturday into Sunday morning. High pressure after that with a blocking pattern.



VIDEO FRIDAY'S:

My Playground: Sam Anthamatten

No Snow-Airbag Antics: Airbag Deployment

Free Ride World Tour: Teaser

An avalanche on Mount Juneau: Alaska


ARTICLES:

Searching for the Human Factors in Deadly Avalanches: Top News Trends

High avalanche hazard hinders Search for Missing Snowshoers: NSR

Shepperd buried in snow as Avalanche hits Jumgal District: Kyrgyzstan

Spearhead Hut Project to break ground this spring: Pique






OBSERVATIONS:

  

Mike Osachuk December 29, 2016
Just got back from a 1 night/2 day shred at Callahan Country's Journeyman Lodge...great lodging,friendly people,awesome pillows lines and most important...90 cm's of fresh powder it's the deepest snow I have ever encountered , I wish I packed a snorkel..Neck deep day!!!

   From 06:30 Hrs to 12:30 hours 30 cm at Catskinner weather plot--snowing 5 cm per hour.

   Skiing was amazing in and around the trees.

    By 15:00 hrs the snow eased off to flurries, 40 cm recorded at 1650 meters, 36 cm at 1550 meters.