May 22, 2017

   AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Mount Currie slide paths.

    Looks like some recent activity?!!

    Yesterday, locally-- loose wet avalanches observed to Sz 2. Some natural cornice releases to Sz 2.

    An avalanche in France has killed an ex-pistehor, story in article section.                      Net Pic


    YESTERDAY:

    Sunday morning May 21, 2017.

   Armchair Sunday morning, some blue before the cloud layer thickened.

    Bike park was busy.

    Just before noon on Sunday. High cloud pushed in from the West.

    Big picture same time frame Sunday.

    Overcast for most of the day with a high cirrus cloud layer, greenhouse affect.

    High overcast at around noon.

    The cirrus cloud began to dissipate later in the day.



Weather Observations for May 22, 2017 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      +7, Winds were 10-15 KPH ESE--Horstman Hut 
1860 meters      +9, Winds were     0-5 KPH SE  --Rendevous
1550 meters      +7, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 200 cm Base, RH 51%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters      +6, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +24.7, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hours this am we have high scattered cirrus cloud and unlimited visibility.

   Image from 06;45 this am. Still some cirrus cloud in the area.

FORECAST:

The upper level ridge will bring mostly sunny skies to the area today with a Northwesterly onshore flow. There is still some scattered high cirrus cloud but it should burn off by this afternoon. The FL is just below 4000 meters and there is a slight inversion. The high pressure will  persist into Tuesday before a rapidly approaching upper trough pushes in from the North by Tuesday night. We should see come cloud development Tuesday afternoon and there is a chance of some precipitation early Wednesday morning. The FL will drop to 1500 meters by Tuesday night as the trough moves through, with some moderate/strong winds in the alpine. Wednesday will be mostly cloudy with some scattered showers and the FL will gradually rise back up to the 2500 meter range. Unsettled weather for Thursday as the trough moves East and a ridge begins to build for the end of the week.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    May see some clouds pass by later in the day.

    High pressure for today with mostly sunny skies.

    Upper trough will bring some cloud for Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

    Looking unsettled Wednesday as the trough moves East.

    Unsettled Thursday into Friday.

    Ridge rebuilds for the weekend.


OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Very quiet at 07:00 Hrs.

    Three hours later!!

    The alpine did not open on Sunday!!

    Very busy day in the Town Centre.


ARTICLES:

Tignes firefighter killed in an avalanche: France

More info on above incident: Pistehors.com

Avalanche Danger High in North Shore Mountains: North Shore News

Avalanche comes down near Kun Base Camp: Kargil, India

Parks Canada Avalanche Bulletin: Spring Conditions

Temperatures in the Arctic are increasing twice as fast: Science Daily

May 21, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Old cornice debris in Blackcomb Bowl. Check out observation section below for some intel!!

    Alpine was closed at 13:00 Hrs on Saturday. Expect closures today as well!!

    An avalanche has killed a road worker in Tusheti, Georgia--Story in article section.          Net Pic

    YESTERDAY:

    Early Saturday morning May 20, 2017.

    No wind or clouds at 08:30 Hours.

   Awesome views in the morning.

    Saturday afternoon.

    Big Picture Saturday afternoon.

    Some cloud development later in the AM.

    More clouds later in the afternoon.

    Parapenters were enjoying an awesome day for flying.

    Clouds dissipated later in the afternoon.

    Sunset was at 20:58 on Saturday.

Weather Observations for May 21, 2017 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      +4, Winds were 5-10 KPH SE--Horstman Hut 
1860 meters      +6, Winds were   0-5 KPH SE--Rendevous
1550 meters      +4, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs, 204 cm Base, RH 80%  --Catskinner 

  660 meters      +4, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +23.5, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs we have some scattered cirrus cloud and unlimited visibility.

   Image from 07:00 hrs this am, stratus layer along the coast, high cirrus to the Northwest.

FORECAST:

The upper ridge will strengthen today in a Northwesterly onshore flow. Mostly sunny conditions with some cloud development this afternoon. The FL will rise to about 3600 meters. Victoria Day will also be warm and mostly sunny with a few clouds, the FL will spike too almost 4000 meters. Tuesday begins as a sunny day with some cloud development and cooler temperatures Tuesday night as a weak upper low moves down from the Gulf of Alaska. Uncertain at this time where it will track and how much moisture will accompany it for Wednesday. Going to say unsettled weather for the later part of next week. Monday is the last daily post until next ski season. Will be sporadically posting during the summer when there are avalanche issues and topics to be discussed. Not sure as to the future of this blog as it depends on sponsorship and how many people are willing to donate to keep it up and running. There is a donate button on the side bar!! I am organising an Avalanche Awareness Seminar this coming October, the dates are the 27Th and 28 Th with the venue at the Chateau Whistler. Looking for sponsors and exhibitors to pay for this event. Please go to www.aawsome.ca for information as the summer progresses.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    High pressure for Sunday.

    Flow for Sunday into Thursday.

    High strengthens Sunday, FL rises to 3800+meters.

    Looking nice for Monday.

    A weak upper trough pushes in from the North on Tuesday. Expected cooler temps Tuesday night.

   Weak upper trough for Wednesday will bring unsettled conditions.


OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

Maria Masiar May 20 at 7:47pm

Wedgemount area - stay off of Wedge, Parkhurst, Rethel this weekend. Avalanches started at  10:30 am and didn't stop all day. I heard no less than 10. Back of the lake has a big one.  Snow line starts at 1100m (basically 30 min up the trail). It's boot packed all the way up now  and the lake is still frozen. The glacier is in excellent shape and fully filled in but cornices are  EPIC. Also saw big cougar tracks.

    Blue Bird Saturday morning.

    You can see were the dozer is cutting in the road to the Peak.

    Fissile Mtn.

    Clouds in the afternoon.


ARTICLES:

Avalanches will occur in the mountains on the May Long Weekend: Avalanche Canada

Avalanche kills road worker in Tusheti: Georgia

One of the most dangerous roads in the World: Pshavi-Omalo Road

Slow going for WSDOT crews attempting to clear Chinook Pass: Route 410