November 3, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Evidence of  loose wet snow slides when there was a warm inversion in the alpine, likely Saturday!

    PAST WEEK:

    Saturday morning October 28, 2017. +9 at 1835 meters. +2 in the valley. 08:00 Hrs

    Sunday morning October 29, 2017. High cirrus cloud. +3 at 08:00 Hrs.

    06:15 Hrs Monday October 30, 2017.  -1 Deg in the valley.

    Tuesday morning October 31, 2017.  +8 at 1835 meters at 08:00 Hrs

    Wednesday morning November 1, 2017.  -3 at 08:00 Hrs.

    Thursday morning November 2, 2017.  08:00 Hrs snowing hard, 10-20 KPH S, -8.4 Deg.

Weather Observations for November 3, 2017 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters    -20, Winds were 30-55 KPH SW--Whistler peak
1860 meters    -18, Winds were 15-25 KPH S    --Rendevous
1550 meters    -16, RH 85%--Catskinner 

  660 meters      -8, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +5.2, 11.9 mm of Precip recorded yest

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

    As of 08:30 Hrs Friday am, -20 Deg in the alpine. NNE winds 15-25 KPH.

FORECAST:

An upper level trough has moved South of our zone with unsetled weather in its wake. Mostly Sunny conditions today with cool temperatures and low level flow out of the North. Another cool weak upper trough will arrive for Saturday with more cloud and some intermittent scattered snow flurries. The airmass is looking fairly dry and there is a chance of some breaks as well. Sunday will likely be mostly sunny with cool temperatures. The nice weather should continue into Monday with some cloud development Monday afternoon. Another series of frontal bands is expected Tuesday with warmer temperatures, overcast conditions, and precipitation into next Friday.

    Low from yesterday is moving South.

     Upper trough is moving South today with sunny skies expected.

    Low will bring cloud to the area again Saturday.

    Looking like a nice day on Sunday.

    Mostly sunny on Monday as well.

    Next system moving into our zone on Tuesday-Wednesday.

Monday November 6, 2017 weather update:

    Monday Nov 6, 2017. Clear skies unlimited visibility at 07:30 hrs.  -14 Deg C.

Upper level ridge for today with clear skies cold temperatures in a Northerly flow aloft. By tomorrow we will see unsettled conditions with some cloud development and the freezing level rising to + or - 1200 meters. A front will stall on the coast for Wednesday with unsettled weather and minimal precipitation. By Thursday it will push through with overcast skies and light snowfall above 800 meters. The FL will fluctuate from a possible high of 1800 meters on Wednesday to a low of 1200 meters by Friday. Friday at this time is looking like a mostly cloudy day with light snow in the alpine to mid station. The weekend will likely have a series of weak frontal bands push through with seasonable temperatures. More info on Friday.

    Monday morning image.

    High pressure for today with clouds heading our way for Tuesday.

   A few clouds around on Wednesday but relatively dry.

    Cloudy on Thursday but the airmass is fairly dry.

    More cloud on Friday with some light snowfall above 800 meters.


INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Awesome day Saturday, valley high of +15.2 Deg.

    Inverted temperatures were melting the new snow.

    High overcast skies on Sunday.

    Melt Freeze Crust at 2300 meters on Monday. Teeth Chattering!!  Snow temp -5!!

    Clouds moved into the Valley early Tuesday morning, -2 at 660 meters at 07:00 Hrs.

    High overcast most of the day on Tuesday. High of +9.1 in the valley.

    Unsettled Wednesday, more clouds near the evening as the cold front moved in.

    Making snow in a snow storm. Thursday morning.

    Creekside Thursday morning.

    Upper low pushed through Thursday with cold temps.



VIDEO FRIDAY:

Getting caught in a large avalanche: Travis Rice

Winning run from Red Bull Rampage 2017: Kurt Sorge

Rega explains avalanche SAR techniques: Air Med & Rescue

Growing up avalanche savy: Get Avalanche Smart


ARTICLES:

A skier triggered avalanche in Alaska: AAC

A snowboarder in Haines Pass triggers avalanche: CBC News

How young is too young to begin avalanche education: Outside Magazine

Why U.S. Ski Team Racers are learning avalanche safety: Powder

Understanding and managing depth hoar: Utah Avalanche Center

Yurt village planned for Squamish Backcountry: Squamish Chief

Canada's winters are set to change dramatically in the future: Prairie Climate Centre

October 27, 2017

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche involvement on Redline Glacier Oct 21, 2017. MIN report below.   Al Ducros Pic?

    An avalanche in Mongolia has killed 17 climbers.  Story in article section below.               Net Pic

    An avalanche on Mount Blanc has killed a climber, article below.                                      Net Pic

    If there is enough snow to ride there is enough snow to slide, Sr-- Kananaskis Area     KCPSS pic


     PAST WEEK:

    Saturday October 21, 2017. -4 Winds 10-30 SE at 07:30 Hrs.

    Sunday morning October 22, 2017. As of 07:45 Hrs -1.6, winds were 30-80KPH. Sunrise 07:45.

    Monday morning October 23, 2017. -2 at 1835 meters.

    Tuesday morning October 24, 2017 +5 at 07:00 Hrs.

    Sunrise was at 07:49 Hrs, Tuesday morning.

    Wednesday morning October 25, 2017. Warm and moist. 2.2 mm recorded at 660 meters. +5 Deg

    Thursday morning October 26, 2017.  +1 at 08:00 Hrs, High of 12 deg at 16:00 Hrs.



Weather Observations for October 27, 2017 taken at 07:00 Hours.

2180 meters    +9, Winds were 25-45 KPH W    --Whistler peak
1860 meters  +12, Winds were 15-25 KPH NNE--Rendevous
1550 meters    +6, RH 53%--Catskinner 

  660 meters    +2, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +11.8, 0.0 mm of Precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs we have clear skies and unlimited visibility, sunrise will be at 07:54 Hrs.

FORECAST:

A blocking ridge will bring warm weather and clear skies to the area today in a Northerly flow aloft. The ridge will persist into Tuesday of next week, with warm temperatures, mostly sunny skies and some cloud development. A cooler moist flow is expected by next Wednesday- Thursday. There are some inconsistencies in the models so only time will tell. In the meantime enjoy the hit of seasonably warm daytime temperatures.

    IR image from this am.

    High for today.

    Warm high for Saturday with the FL at 4000+ meters.

    High moves to the North on Sunday, should see some cloud develop.

    High surrounded by many lows into early next week.

    Low migrates West for Wednesday into Thursday.

    Low will influence the area on Friday as well.

MONDAY OCTOBER 30, 2017 Weather Update:

A strong upper level ridge will strengthen today with clear skies in a Northeasterly flow aloft. Tuesday is also looking like a nice day with clouds likely rolling in tomorrow afternoon. A weak Arctic cold front will push through on Wednesday with unsettled weather transitioning to cloudier skies with some light precipitation. Thursday is looking cloudy with a lowering freezing level and light to moderate snowfall to the valley. At this time Friday is looking unsettled with cold temperatures. The first arctic outbreak of the year may bring clear cold weather for next weekend. More on that in Friday's post.

    High rebuilds today.

    Fairly large Pacific High.

    Looking nice Tuesday with a low moving into the zone by the evening.

    Upper level low will push in Wednesday and Thursday.

    Cold air from the Northeast pushes in Thursday into next weekend.




OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Avalanche Canada Foundation Fundraiser Click > Spin for Snow Safety

    Atmospheric river # 3 Saturday October 21, 2017. Most of the precip went south. Oregon slammed

    Alpine temperatures went from -7 early Saturday am to -1 at 22:30 Hrs.

    More snow to the valley on Saturday, 12.7 mm of precip recorded at 660 meters.

    Sunday afternoon, 5.3 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Monday,  High pressure beginning to push North with a large warm air mass. A dry day!!

    Melt freeze cycle Monday night. Image taken on Tuesday afternoon. Thin crust on north slopes

    Ipsoot Glacier. Very warm on Tuesday, Hi of +10 at 1850 meters.

    Tuesday was a welcome day after all the recent wet weather.

    Weak cold front pushed through on Wednesday morning..

    Unsettled Wednesday afternoon. 2.2 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    High pressure building Thursday.

    Fall colours Thursday.

    Blue bird on Thursday with a valley high of +11.8.



VIDEO FRIDAY:

Decisions, Distractions, and Reflections: Kevin Grove

Ski cut from last October in France: Tof Henry


ARTICLES:

17 climbers killed in an avalanche on Otgontenger: Mongolia

Avalanche involvement Redline Glacier Oct 21, 2017: Avalanche Canada MIN Report

Avalanche season begins: Kananskis Country

An avalanche on Mount Blanc has killed a climber: France

Early Season Avalanche Conditions: Avalanche Canada

How social media can lead to Avalanche Accidents: Adventure Journal

Older article, but important info on Managing Risk & Responsibility: Backcountry Magazine

Early season weather lays the foundation for winter snowpack stability: Mountain Sledder

La Nina, El Nino & Your Ski Season: Off-Piste

Paper on rainwater propagation through the snowpack: European Geosciences Union