February 10, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Sz 1 natural avalanche Thurday morning.

    Avalanche control on WB yesterday produced Sz 1-2.5 with up to 60 cm crowns.


   YESTERDAY:

    Lots of keen people, 07:30 hrs Thursday February 9, 2017.

    Snow cats were trying hard to keep some runs groomed.

    Snow was great in the morning.

    Precip had eased off in the morning, but back with a vengeance by noon, with some strong winds.

    Big picture Thursday afternoon, looks like the front is heading South.

    Lots of work on Thursday.

    Snowing hard in the afternoon.

    Wind/snow covered skis quickly Thursday afternoon.

    Thursday night in Alpine Meadows. Way more snow fell on the West side of the valley.


Weather Observations for February 10, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -8, Winds were 50-90 KPH S --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters    -7, Winds were 50-90 KPH E --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -6, Winds were 30-65 KPH S --Rendevous
1835 meters    -5, Winds were 35-80 KPH S --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -4, 8 cm of new snow, 17 cm in 24 hrs, 277 cm Base, RH 93%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -4, 2 cm of new snow, 2 cm in 24 hrs, 180 cm Base, RH 86%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters   +1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -6.3, 3.8 mm of Precip recorded yest

 FORECAST:

The warm upper air mass that moved through last night was replaced with a weak cold front in a Southwesterly flow aloft. Unfortunatley most of the precipitation went South. Today we can expect light snowfall with overcast windy conditions as a deep surface trough pushes throug our zone. Saturday is looking unsettled as an upper ridge begins to build in the area. The FL will likely hover around surface. Sunday is unsettled with more cloud than breaks. The FL will likely spike at around 1200 meters. The ridge strengthens Monday/Tuesday with a warm air mass in the area. The FL could spike to as high as 2300 meters. Looks like a Pineapple express coming our way for Wednesday.  Guesstimates: 10-15 cm by Saturday morning, Trace -1 cm for Sunday morning.

   Light snow for today with overcast skies.

   Cold front passes through Friday with cooler temperatures and light snow.

   Unsettled Saturday with the chance of some isolated flurries.

    Cooler temperatures Saturday with a Westerly Flow.

   Sunday will be unsettled.

   High builds for Monday.



OBSERVATIONS &  INFORMATION:

    Natural avalanche cycle during the storm early Thursday morning.

   Snow was deep in places!!

    Drifting in the trees, Sc Sz 1 in the steep open trees yesterday.

    Ever growing tree bomb.



VIDEO FRIDAY:

Wet Avalanche-Feb 5, 2017: Utah

Quiet moment of snow sliding: Brad Dean

Sledding in Kimberly B.C.: 2017


ARTICLES:

Special avalanche warnings issued for Parrts of B.C.: Avalanche Canada

Sun Valley closed after Extreme Danger Rating: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Mountain passes remain closed as avalanche danger reaches Extreme: Washington State

Italy avalanche survivors outraged over plans to make a TV series: January Tragedy

February 9, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Snowboarder killed in an avalanche on Mittagskagel, Austria--Story in article section.    Net Pic

    Image of the above mentioned avalanche.                                                                            Net Pic

    Avalanche on the Trans Canada, no injuries.                                                         Parks Canada Pic

    Locally some Sz 1 Sa (skier accidental) reported, sloughing on steep terrain.


    YESTERDAY:

    Early Wednesday morning, February 8, 2017.

    Looking North, still some blue before the clouds roll in.

    Darker clouds as the front pushed in from the South.

    Snow conditions have been excellent.

    Wednesday morning.

    Light snow began to fall around noon.

    Snowing 1 cm an hour by 16:00 Hrs.




Weather Observations for February 8, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -3, Winds were 35-50 KPH SE--Horstman Hut 
2180 meters    -2, Winds were 40-60 KPH S  --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -1, Winds were 25-40 KPH SE--Rendevous
1835 meters    -1, Winds were 25-40 KPH SE--Roundhouse
1650 meters     0, 30 cm of new snow, 30 cm in 24 hrs, 268 cm Base, RH 96%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -4, 35 cm of new snow, 35 cm in 24 hrs, 203 cm Base, RH 98%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters  -10, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -8.7, 3.1 mm of Precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing 1 cm per hour.



FORECAST:

A strong warm front in a Southwesterly flow aloft will continue to bring heavy snow and moderate/strong winds to the area this morning. The FL could rise to 1500 meters but the storm so far has been relatively cold, would be amazing if we get dry snow to the valley.Still a chance of it rising to 1800 meters. A trailing cold front will push through later today with a decrease in snowfall. Friday will see the cold front move through with colder temperatures and light snow, the FL should remain below 1000 meters. An upper ridge begins to build for Saturday but the weather is expected to remain unsettled and the FL should drop back to the surface. Sunday will also be unsettled with a weak front pushing through in the afternoon. The ridge will strengthen for Monday but weaken on Tuesday. As of now another Pacific front will likely arrive for Wednesday of next week. Guesstimates: 35-45 cm by Friday morning, 10-15 cm by Saturday morning, 2-4 cm by Sunday morning.

   Heavy snowfall until later today when it should ease off. Cold front moves through later in the day.

    Plume of moisture will continue this am.

    Cold front will push through Friday with light snow and cooler temperatures.

    Unsettled Saturday with a mix of sun and cloud and the possibility of some isolated snow flurries.

 

   Unsettled Sunday with some periods of overcast skies.

   Mostly sunny for Monday as the upper ridge briefly strengthens.


   OBSERVATIONS &  INFORMATION:

   Bright for a while in the morning.

    Patches of blue in the am.

    Very cool colours in the morning with the approach of the front..

    Started snowing hard in the valley at around 19:00 Hrs.


ARTICLES

Snowboarder killed in an avalanche on Mittagskagel in Tyrol: Austria

Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely in Sea to Sky Region Thursday: Avalanche Canada

Trans-Canada Highway reopened after avalanche near BC-Alberta Border: Field, B.C.

Slide buries Berthoud pass under 20 Feet of snow: Colorado

Could Ski Resorts start using drones to stop avalanches: American Company

Interstate 90 closed at Snoqualmie Pass: Avalanche Danger

February 8, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in the Valais area has killed a splitboarder, story in article section.                Net Pic

   Someone walked by the permanent closure and cut out a size 1 avalanche over the traverse.

   If you have a season pass you can loose your access privileges to WB for one year for this.


    YESTERDAY:

    Scattered cloud in the morning, February 7, 2017.

    Clouds dissipated as the morning progressed.

    Eventually there was more blue than cloud.

    The freeway.

   Tallest tower on the Peak to Peak, Twr 3 Blackcomb Side.

    Tuesday morning.

    Tuesday afternoon, big picture.

    Plate stellars refracting light.

    Very cool light and angel dust.

    Near the end of the day.

Weather Observations for February 8, 2017: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -15, Winds were 10-15 KPH SE --Horstman Hut 
2180 meters    -10, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -14, Winds were   5-10 KPH E    --Rendevous
1835 meters    -13, Winds were   5-10 KPH S    --Roundhouse
1650 meters    -14, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 245 cm Base, RH 86%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -14, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 176 cm Base, RH 88%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters    -12, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was -6.7, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have scattered cloud and unlimited visibility.



FORECAST:

A strong warm front will arrive later this morning with wet, warm, windy weather in a Southerly flow aloft. Thursday will be a storm skiing day with the FL hopefully topping out at 1500 meters, there is a chance it could go to 1800 meters. Hoping it will stay in the 1200 meter range. Friday will be overcast as a trough passes through with an associated cold front, lowering the FL to about 800 meters. We can expect overcast skies and light snowfall for most of the Day with a clearing trend by the evening. A ridge of high pressure will bring unsettled conditions to the area Saturday, strengthening Sunday.
Guesstimates: 20-30 cm by Thursday morning, 25-35 cm by Friday morning, 8-12 cm by Saturday morning.

   Clear with moderating temps in the 850 MB forecast.

   Still looks like 0 to -2 at 1800 meters.

    Cools off slightly Friday.

    Flow for the next few days at 850 MB.

OBSERVATIONS &  INFORMATION:

Dan Cudlip February 7 at 11:17am

The are only 2 days left on the indigogo campaign to fund the spearhead huts, and they are still a long ways short of their goal.  Dig deep team, and we can have more but space for everyone!  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/whistler-spearhead-huts-project/x/16035580#/     Lots of settlement in the past few days.

    A mix of stellars and plate stellars.

   Steeps are skiing well.

   Full moon will be on February 11, 2017.


ARTICLES:

Splitboarder killed in an avalanche in Valais: Switzerland

12 year old killed in an avalanche in Issyk-Kul: Kyrgyzstan

Afghans dig with "any tools possible" for avalanche survivors: Kabul

Update on Tragedy in Afghanistan & Pakistan: 150 Lives Lost

Avalanche closes trans Canada Hwy near BC Alberta Border: Lake Louise

Avalanche warnings across Western Montana: Helena

Iran offers help to Afghanistan after deadly avalanche: Humanitarian Aid