August 11, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Recent avalanche on Annapurna South. Story in article section.                        Emilly Hill Image

    Recent avalanche occurrence on Mt Hotham, story in article section.  Hotham Ski Resort Image

    Mt Hotham slide path.                                                                              Hotham Resort Image


    PAST WEEK:

    Saturday morning August 5, 2017. Smoke continues to obscure the sky.

    Sunday morning August 6, 2017. Not much different than yesterday.

    Just prior to sunset Sunday evening. Air quality was slightly better!!

    Monday morning August 7, 2017.

    Alexander Falls, Monday afternoon.

    Tuesday morning August 8, 2017.

    Wednesday morning August 9, 2017. Sunrise was at 05:53. Sunset 20:42. Mountains were visible.

    Thursday morning August 10, 2017. +17 at 07:00 Hrs. Visibility improved.

    Thursday afternoon, big improvement.

    Friday morning August 11, 2017. Sunrise was at 05:56 Hrs. +14 at 1835 meters.

Weather Observations for August 11, 2017 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   +13, Winds were 10-15 KPH SE--Horstman Hut 
1860 meters   +14, Winds were 10-20 KPH SE--Rendevous
1550 meters   +14, RH 70%--Catskinner 

  660 meters   +13, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +31.8, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

FORECAST:

Still an upper level ridge in the area this morning but change is in the air, as a South-Southwest flow aloft will begin to change the pattern. The ridge will begin to shift Eastward with an upper trough following in its wake. Dry and warm for today with improving visibility.  This shift will likely slowly begin to clean up the smoke we have been experiencing for the past 11 days. A low to the Northwest will direct an upper trough into our zone for Saturday, with unsettled weather for most of the day with increasing cloud and showers by Saturday night. Light rain and overcast conditions for Sunday as a cold front moves through the area with cooler temperatures.  By Monday we will be in unsettled weather with a cleaner sky. Pattern will remain unsettled for the beginning of next week slowly reverting back to a warm summer ridge by mid week. Will update on Monday as there are some inconsistencies in the model runs..

    Dry and warm today as the ridge migrates East.

    High will shift Eastward today with a Southerly flow aloft.

    Low will send a trough our way Saturday with some welcome precip by late Saturday night.

    Moist on Sunday, cold front pushes through.

    Unsettled on Monday.

    High pressure back by Wednesday/Thursday.


Monday August 14Th update:

Cold front swept through quickly early Sunday morning with unsettled weather in its wake. A weak upper ridge developing off the coast and the low in the Gulf of Alaska will influence our weather for the remainder of the week. The high pressure will win over into Friday with mostly sunny weather and periods of cloud in a predominately Northwest flow aloft. As of now the flow could shift on the weekend with more cloud and cooler temperatures but more on that in Friday's post.

    Cold front quickly moved through on Sunday morning.

    Unsettled today looking nice for tomorrow.

    High rebuilds.

    Looking nice on Friday but models are hinting towards cool moist weather by Saturday?!!

    OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

Reid Madiuk August 10 at 12:21pm

Spearhead head hut volunteer call out. Matt Gunn Delete if necessary.  We need a few experienced carpenters/concrete placers to assist next week. We will be pouring 24 cubic meters by helicopter.  Please PM for details.  This could turn into full time permanent work for the right candidates.  Please help spread the word.  You can email me direct at  reid@coastessential.com

    Saturday was very smokey, perhaps the worst since it began on Tuesday August 1.

    Sunday morning.

    Dry conditions in the bike park Sunday, max temp in the valley was 31.0 deg.

    Monday afternoon, high of +31.5 Deg. Busy despite the air quality.

    Full moon was on Monday night, referred to as the Sturgeon Moon

    Prepping for Crankworks, High in the valley on Tuesday was +33.1 Deg.

    Tuesday afternoon.

    Smoke on the Water, Howe Sound--Tuesday.

    Wednesday the temperature maxed out at 34.0 Deg.

   Alta Lake Wednesday.

    Thursday morning.  High of +31.8 at 660 m Thursday.

    Flying into Vancouver Thursday afternoon.                                                           Shira Flann Pic


VIDEO FRIDAY:

Snowboarder releases an avalanche: Perisher, Australia

Highest base Jump in South America: Huascaran

Back flip over peloton: Tour de Pologne

Heat Wave VS Glaciers: Europe


ARTICLES:

Avalanche at Mount Hotham: Victoria Alps, Austarlia

Tourists warned to stay clear of remote alpine areas in Southern Australia: Avalanche Threat

South Annapurna Glacier research team captures avalanche on camera: Nepal

Mountain Safety Council warns avalanche risk is high: New Zealand

Man survives collapsing snow bridge in North Shore Mountains: Mitten Couloir

Avalanche Canada seeks new Directors: Powder Canada

Rogers pass 1910 Avalanche survivor: Bill LaChance

El Nino's chances fading further: Possible la Nada for this winter

Lighter electric airbag in the making: Backcountry Skiing Blog

Squaw Valley Ski Resort fined $20,250.00 by CALL/OSHA for Ski Patroller's Death: Snowbrains

August 4, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Three climbers have been killed in an avalanche on Piramide de Garcilaso. Story below. Net Pic

    PAST WEEK:

    Saturday morning July 29, 2017. +9 Deg at 07:00 Hrs.

    Clouded over in the afternoon on Saturday.

    Sunday morning July 30, 2017. Slightly cooler temperatures.

    Monday afternoon July 31, 2017.

    Tuesday afternoon August 1, 2017. Hot & Smokey.

    Wednesday morning August 2, 2017. Smoke Advisory for Whistler

    Obscured on Wednesday morning, + 13 Deg 55 % Humidity at 1550 meters.

   Thursday am August 3, 2017. +16 Deg at 1835 meters at 06:00 Hrs. Humidity 45 % at 1550 M.


Weather Observations for August 4, 2017 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters   +15, Winds were 20-40 KPH NE   --Horstman Hut 
1860 meters   +15, Winds were  25-35 KPH ENE--Rendevous
1550 meters   +16, RH 40%--Catskinner 

  660 meters   +13, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +34.6, trace of Precip recorded yest

    As of 06:00 Hrs this am.


FORECAST:

The upper ridge will maintain until the middle of next week in a Rex Block pattern. The flow for today will be Northwesterly aloft. We will need a strong off shore flow or some precipitation to help with the smoke issue. Will update the forecast later in the weekend. Update- Northerly flow aloft will continue into the middle of the week according to the latest models. The upper ridge will strengthen and move farther North Monday and Tuesday. We may see some stronger offshore flow by Wednesday. An upper trough is forecasted for Friday/Saturday which will hopefully clear out most of the smoke, lets keep our fingers crossed.

    High pressure again for today.

    High may weaken a bit later today with possibly some slightly cooler temps.

    Rex Block Friday thru Monday.

    High for Saturday.

    High for Sunday.

    High into the middle of next week.

    Models are suggesting a change on Friday.

    Hopefully a change by next weekend.

    Possible precipitation by Sunday.

    Low pressure heading our way for next weekend.

    Recent image of the smoke.


INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Early Saturday morning, +10 Deg at O7:00 Hrs, Temp maxed out at +27.2.

    Sunday afternoon. Max temp at 660 meters was +25.8.

    Monday afternoon, not much snow left in the alpine.

    Tuesday the smoke became more apparent.

    Tuesday afternoon, Daytime high of +31.8 Deg. Air quality not the best!!

    Wednesday morning smoke.

    Large warm high in the area on Wednesday.

    Satellite image Wednesday morning.

    A smokey province, article on smokes migration below.

    Smokey Thursday morning.

    A little less smoke Thursday afternoon.


VIDEO FRIDAY:

Avalanche hits climbers: Peak Lenin

Putting out a fire: Jet Boater

Deadly Tsunami: Greenland


ARTICLES:

Three Mountain Climbers die on Snowy Summit in Peru Andes: Avalanche Suspected

Vail avalanche death case on hold: Colorado

Climate change shuts down another glacier based terrain park: Austria

Testing for avalanches and taking safe risks: ISSTD News

Update on the Larsen-C iceberg breakaway: Science Daily

Sunshine closes again due to Fire Risk: Snow Industry News

Work begins on Alpine Hut Systems: Russet Lake Hut

Smoke migrates into Washington State: Cliff Mass Weather Blog

Update on PWL in New Zealand: Anna Keeling