October 20, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    There were some roof avalanches observed on Wednesday.

    PAST WEEK:

    Saturday morning October 14, 2017. -4 at 07:00 Hrs.

    Sunday morning October 15, 2017. Unsettled above a thick valley cloud layer. +2 Deg.

   Monday morning October 16, 2017. Overcast and showers.  +2 Deg.

    Tuesday morning October 17, 2017.  Rain transitioned to wet snow. Image taken at 08:30 Hrs.

    Wednesday morning October 18, 2017. 08:00 Hrs -3 and snowing lightly.

    Nester's weather station at 660 meters on Wednesday afternoon. Snow turning to rain at 14:30 Hrs.

    Thursday morning October 19, 2017. Snowing, -2 at 07:00 Hrs. High yesterday of 0 at 14:30 Hrs.


Weather Observations for October 20, 2017 taken at 07:00 Hours.

2180 meters    -5, Winds were 25-35 KPH S     --Whistler peak
1860 meters    -3, Winds were 10-20 KPH ESE--Rendevous
1550 meters    -1, RH 95%--Catskinner 

  660 meters   +3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +5.7, 24.7 mm of Precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 hrs this am we have overcast skies and variable visibility.

FORECAST:

A cool weak surface trough will push through today in a Westerly flow aloft.  We can expect intermittent showers and a lowering freezing level, unsettled conditions. There is a risk of some thunderstorms this afternoon? A warm front will develop on Saturday into Sunday with moderate to heavy precipitation and the FL fluctuating in the 1800-1000 meter range. The brunt of the precipitation will likely occur on Saturday night, and a trailing cold front will follow the warm fronts exit on Sunday. Monday is looking unsettled as a ridge builds and strengthens for Tuesday with warm temperatures. As of now a warm weak front will push through on Wednesday or Thursday followed by a cool Northwest flow. Will update on Monday!

    This morning.

    Cloudy with intermittent showers for today, cool and unstable airmass may create some Thunder.

    Warm front pushes through on Saturday.

    Similar flow for Sunday.

    Not as wet on Sunday.

    Flow Saturday and Sunday.

     Unsettled Monday with warmer air heading our way for early next week.

    Ridging for Tuesday.


Monday October 23, 2017 Weather Update:

Unsettled today with a chance of some showers, with a steadily rising freezing level in a Westerly flow aloft. Depending on the strength of the warm high to our South we may see some clearing tomorrow but the low may have enough strength to keep it mostly cloudy, going for unsettled. A weak cold front is forecasted for Wednesday with unsettled weather, before a very warm high pressure builds into the area Thursday into next weekend.

    Westerly flow for today with a strong low to the North and a building high to the South.

    Unsettled today, chance of some showers.

    May see some clearing on Tuesday.

    Very warm high to the South will bring the FL up to 4500 meters later in the week.

    Weak cold front passing through Wednesday.

    Warm high pressure strengthens Thursday.

    OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

                              Price is right!!

    Avalanche Canada Foundation Fundraiser Click> Spin for Snow Safety


From South Coast Touring:

Goar Bermúdez García shared his photo.

Intel from Metal Dome. October 21 St.

Today's updare from metal dome, 120cm at 1800m and 50cm at 1500m, skins on at 1300m. More shallow snowpack but lower snowline than a year ago today, but good for a few fresh turns in October, pretty reactive and wind affected in the alpine, windslab problems, didn't go to the Glacier, best skiing on the trees but loads of things sticking out everywhere. 30cm+ storm snow above 1600m

    Tree skiing in October.    Goar Bermundez Garcia Pic.

    Armchair Friday October 13, 2017. Awesome day.

    Creekside view Saturday morning. 0 Deg early in the am.

    Sunday morning was very grey. +4 at 08:00 Hrs.

    Sunday afternoon, some breaks but clouds clung to the local peaks.

    Monday afternoon, High of +8.1, 11.5 mm recorded at 660m on Monday in 24 hrs.

    Modest atmospheric river Monday night into Tuesday. 40.5 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    07:00 Hrs Tuesday morning, warm moist weather, FL above 2300 meters. +3 Deg at 1835 M.

    08:15 Hrs Tuesday morning, cooler air aloft with a cold front pushing through. 0 Deg.

    By 11:30 am on Tuesday the trailing cold front pushed through with some unsettled weather.

    Unsettled on Tuesday afternoon, a nice fall day compared to the same time frame from Wednesday.

    Snow started early Wednesday morning and then turned to rain at around 14:30 Hrs.

   Big picture on Wednesday. 45.8 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Deciduous tress took the worst of the heavy snowfall.

    Municipal crews were working hard to save some of the trees.

    Thursday morning 09:00 Hrs.

    By 14:00 Hrs on Thursday main frontal band was pushing South.

    Rain transitioning to showers on Thursday. 24.7 mm recorded at 660 meters.


Interesting Precipitation Facts from the unexceptional atmospheric river events:

October 16-17
Whistler received     40.5 mm of precip
Squamish received   90.1 mm
Pemberton received  34.5 mm

October 18
Whistler received     45.8 mm
Squamish received   61.9 mm
Pemberton received 32.3 mm



VIDEO FRIDAY:

North American Avalanche Danger Scale Explanation: NAC

Avalanche Transceiver Trail Check: BCA


ARTICLES:

Detailed report on the Imp Peak Avalanche Fatality: GNFAC

Musings on avalanches, prevention and the unforgiving wild: Fritz Sperry

Avalanche season is here in the Pacific Northwest: Northwest Avalanche Center

Report into high school avalanche tragedy scolds trip organisers: Japan

Ski Touring Binding Review: Wildsnow

Ice Climbers should carry beacons in Avalanche Areas: Gripped Magazine

Article on the rain event this week, How accurate are all theses sites? : WeatherBrains

October 13, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    First avalanche fatality in North America for the 2017-18 season, articles below.    GNFAC Pic


    PAST WEEK:

    Saturday October 7, 2017

    Dusting on the peaks Saturday morning.

    Sunday October 8, 2017. -1 at 07:00 Hrs.

    Monday morning October 9, 2017--- 0 Deg at 1835 meters.

    Tuesday October 10, 2017.

    Wednesday morning October 11, 2017.

    Thursday morning October 12, 2017. Sunrise was at 07:29 Hrs.

    Unsettled Thursday, there were some breaks. 0.2 mm recorded at 660 meters.


Weather Observations for October 13, 2017 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -7, Winds were 20-35 KPH WNW--Horstman Hut
1860 meters    -5, Winds were 10-20 KPH WNW--Rendevous
1550 meters    -3, RH 95%--Catskinner 

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +6.2, 0.2 mm of Precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies, limited visibility and its is snowing lightly.

   Snow at 670 meters in Whistler this am.

    By 09:00 Hrs it was unsettled and beginning to reveal a winter like scene.

FORECAST:

A cool upper level trough is moving through the area this am in a Northwest flow aloft. Wet snow is falling in the valley this am. A weak offshore ridge will bring mostly sunny skies by this afternoon, but will be short lived as a strong Westerly flow will bring cloudy skies to the area on Saturday, followed by moist warmer weather Sunday into Monday. The freezing level will rise to above the local peaks before descending on Tuesday as there is a lull prior to some cool Pacific storms rolling through Wednesday into Friday. The FL for this series of frontal waves will slowly drop and we should see some significant snowfall accumulation below mid station. Perhaps we will be getting a taste of an early winter!!

    High is expected to push onshore by this afternoon.

    Moist this am with some breaks on the way.

    Break for today followed by clouds Saturday.

    High weakens and the low will send cloud our way for Saturday.

   Westerly flow for Sunday.

    Westerly flow for Monday with some rain showers, possibly rain for Monday night.

    GFS showing a moist Tuesday, but the ECMWF is calling for a lull before the storm.

    Strong frontal wave for Wednesday.


Monday October 16, 2017 Weather update:

Frontal band pushing through today with moderate to strong precip and a relatively high freezing level. (max 2700 M). Colder on Tuesday with a lull in the bands of moisture heading our way. A strong Jet Streak will bring an Atmospheric River through Tuesday night into Wednesday with significant precipitation. The FL will vary from 1800 (Wednesday) to 1500 meters by Friday as a cold front pushes through on Thursday with moderate precip.  Friday looks to have cool and showery weather. Another jet streak is expected for Saturday, more on that in Friday's post.



    As of 07:00 Monday Oct 16, we have overcast skies, raining lightly, +3 Deg and 20-50 KPH S.

     Weak cold front with a strong Southwest flow aloft for today..

    Active front pushing through today.

    A possible lull on Tuesday evening.

    Fairly deep low with an atmospheric river lining up for the Wet Coast on Wednesday..


    OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Saturday in the valley the max temperature was +9.8 Deg.

    Sunday the high in the valley was +14.5 Deg.

    Lake Simcoe on Sunday evening. Summer like weather in Ontario!!

    Monday morning

    Moist on Tuesday, 0.6 mm of precipitation recorded in the valley at Nester's weather station.

    Wednesday morning, -4 at 1860 meters as of 06:00 Hrs. Snow gun preparations.

    Unsettled Wednesday, 0.4 mm recorded at 660 meters.

 Snowline on Thursday.


VIDEO FRIDAY:

Huge Rockfall: El Capitan, Yosemite

Another Rockslide: Switzerland

Checklists & Backcountry Decision Making: Sarah Carpenter


ARTICLES:

First avalanche fatality of the year in NA, Female backcountry skier: Montana

More information on the avalanche incident in Montana: Mountain Journey

Avalanche Canada presentations at sled shows focusing on close calls: Lessons Learned

Research findings could make it easier to forecast avalanches: SFU

Avalanches reported in the Bucegi Mountains: Romania

Tips on Avalanche Safety: Backcountry Skiing Blog

Four Million $ in New Snow Safety Tools & Technology: Squaw Valley & Alpine Meadows

Still wavering on a La Nina winter, latest ENSO report: NOAA