January 8, 2018

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche has killed a ski instructor outside his home in France. Story below.             Net Pic

    A woman has succumbed to her injuries after being buried by a Sz 3 avalanche on Dec 31. Net Pic

    Locally, avalanche control produced a few Sz 1's with ski cuts (Sc) and explosives (Xe).

    YESTERDAY:

    Snow line came down to the valley.

    Thin cloud cover, snow eased off by the afternoon.

    There were even a few breaks.

    Skiing was nice in the valley.

    Overcast for most of the day. With periods of obscured skies.


Weather Observations for January 8, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters     -4, Winds were 15-30 KPH S      --Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -2, Winds were 10-20 KPH SSW--Roundhouse
1660 meters     -1, 5 cm of new, 10 cm in 24 hrs  Base 178 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +1.5, 4.6 mm of precip recorded yest

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



FORECAST:

An upper trough will bring bring periods of light snowfall today with an impulse of moderate/heavy snow fall tonight in a Southwest flow aloft. The freezing level will hover in the 1300 meter range, warmer this am, dropping by tonight to around 1200 meters. A series of frontal bands will bring periods of snow to the area into Friday. Tuesday will see some light snowfall with a lowering FL, hopefully getting back down to surface by Tuesday night, with the possability of some breaks.  Wednesday will also be overcast with light snow fall and the FL rising to just above the valley floor. At this time Thursday looks to have moderate snow fall and the FL rising to around 1200 meters with a deep low pushing through with strong winds.
Guesstimates: 18-22 cm by Tuesday morning, 4-6 cm by Wednesday morning, 10-15 cm by Thursday morning, 18-24 cm by Friday morning.

    GOES IR image for this am. Still getting the remnants of the frontal bands.

     Warmer temperatures for today.

    Frontal band pushing through today.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Tuesday is the least active weather day.

   INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Snow was nice just above the valley floor.

    By 14:00 hrs yesterday 7 cm was recorded at 1660 meters.

    Unlimited visibility at times in the afternoon.

    Eventually the snow line creeped up to 1000 meters.

    Big picture yesterday, most of the precipitation has gone South.


FROM South Coast Touring:

Matt Gunn January 7 at 10:00pm

Spent the day up Caspar Creek. A fair bit of wind transport, we found slabby conditions on wind loaded slopes above treeline including north west and east aspects. In these areas we saw shooting cracks and were able to trigger small slabs in steep terrain. Snow quality was reasonable at treeline and above although we encountered chuncky avalanche debris below the new snow in several areas.     Bram Whillock January 7 at 7:34pm Up to steep creek today for my bday! Expectations were low, but we got some pretty good turns. 5cm new, snowing S1 until 10am and not much rest of the day. Wind loaded open areas skiing well, skied out zones pretty terrible. New snow wasn't particularly touchy in the zones we skiied, there is tons of avy debris in steep terrain with big icey cookies! Choose your lines wisely until it's well covered. Mitchell Sulkers January 8 at 7:08am Observations returning to Whistler Mtn ski area yesterday afternoon. Pay particular attention to the new mfcr and facet combo formed 180106 which will create a new near-surface layer of concern and prevailing storm winds (light to mod SE at Oboe on Sunday).

Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Report:

Whistler Slackcountry


ARTICLES:

An avalanche has claimed a snowshoer 7 days after her burial: Switzerland

A Ski Instructor has been killed by a natural avalanche near his home: France

No Avalanche warning issued--11 lives could have been saved: Kashmir News

French Ski Stations prepare for 'no snow' by 2030: France

Update on the avalanche in Kashmir: 11 Dead

January 7, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Update in article section on the Avalanche that has killed 11 in Northern India.            Net Pic

    Locally, some Sz 1's with Xe & Sc in the alpine running on 180106 MFcr.


    YESTERDAY:

    Saturday morning, -1 at 1860 meters. Taken at 11:00 Hrs.

    Obscured skies Saturday morning, -4 with 30-40 KPH SE at 11:00 Hrs.

    Some breaks in the afternoon.

    Cloud level just above the valley floor.

Weather Observations for January 7, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters    -8, Winds were 40-55 KPH SE  --Whistler Peak
1835 meters    -5, Winds were 10-25 KPH SE--Roundhouse
1660 meters    -4, 2 cm of new, 2 cm in 24 hrs  Base 169 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.1, 1.3 mm of precip recorded yest

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



FORECAST:

An upper trough will send a weak warm front our way today in a Southwest flow aloft.
The freezing level will fluctuate slightly but stay in the 1000-1200 meter range. Overcast conditions with light snow fall and stronger winds can be expected as the front pushes through. A similar scenario for the next few days with some snow each day, likely will see an impulse of precipitation during the night over the next three days. Warmer Monday with the FL ranging from 1500-1000 meters. Cooler on Tuesday with the FL ranging from 1200 meters to surface. Looking like snow and overcast conditions into Friday.
Guesstimates: 10-15 cm by Monday morning, 12-16 cm by Tuesday morning, 12-16 cm by Wednesday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Low is just to our Northwest.

    Warm front heading our way for today.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Cold front on Monday.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Saturday morning, Temperature in the valley at 11:00 Hrs was +2 Deg.

    Nice to see some snow in the trees again.

    Variable visibility all day.

    There were a few breaks.

    Nester's weather plot, 660 meters.

    Saturday morning at 10:30 Hrs.

    Some observations from the Duffy, thanks to Jeff Van Driel for the pictures and profile.


Hi Wango,

We had overcast skies, light W winds and -2 at 2050m on the Duffey today. 

Surface snow was moist to 2000m and above, down 5-20cm variably. Semi breakable crust 3cm thick on solar slopes at treeline and mashed potatoes on lower angle terrain. The December 14th interface is down 50-60cm and producing hard resistant planar results. Well settled lower snowpack. 

We saw evidence of wet loose to size 2.0 out of steep alpine terrain. 

Test pit on a 31 degree NNW aspect at 2030m with a snowpack depth of 175cm, produced a CTE PC down 3cm just below the surface crust, CTH RP down 30cm at a density change, CTH RP down 52cm on the 171214 interface on a mix of rounds and facets 1.5mm. 

Cheers

Jeff

   Observations on the Duffy.                                                                         Jeff Van Driel Pic

ARTICLES:

Four Steps for managing Avalanche Hazards: Backcountry Magazine

Update on avalanche in Kashmir, 11 dead: Northern India

Colorado snow  pack worst in more than 30 years: Water Shortage

January 6, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche has killed 2 skiers in Austria. Story in article section.

    Locally there were some Sz 1 natural avalanches observed yesterday.


    YESTERDAY:

    Overcast in the morning with light rain.

    There were a few breaks yesterday morning.

    Light rain in the village eventually turned to Moderate rainfall later in the day.

    Freezing rain in the valley turned to rain eventually.

    Warm and moist  Friday.


Weather Observations for January 6, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters     -3, Winds were 20-40 KPH SE--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -1, Winds were 10-20 KPH W --Roundhouse
1660 meters    +1, trace of new, trace in 24 hrs  Base 169 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +0.3, 10.1 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing lightly.


FORECAST:

A weak cold front in a Westerly flow aloft will bring overcast skies and light precipitation to the area today. The Freezing level will slowly descend to around 1000 meters by tonight. A series of fronts will push through our zone with a change expected on Wednesday. Weak warm front Sunday will see light precipitation and the FL slowly rising from 1000 meters to 1500 meters by Sunday night.  Upper level trough will bring more precipitation to the area Monday and Tuesday. Hopefully the FL will drop by Tuesday.
Guesstimates: 4-6 cm by Sunday morning, 12-16 cm by Monday morning, 10-20 cm by Tuesday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am, moisture to our North.

     Low will keep us under the cloud for a few days.

    Cold front pushing through today.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Warm front for Sunday.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Snow in the valley became saturated with rain.

    Ice crust breaking down with rain in the afternoon.

    Icicles from freezing rain in the morning.

    Footsteps filling up with water.

    In the valley Friday we had a Max temp of +0.3 deg, Min of -3.7 deg--10.1 mm of rain recorded.


Recent Avalanche Canada MIN reports:

Trorey Glacier

Phelix Creek



ARTICLES:

Avalanche kills two German skiers in Austria: Kals

Six bodies recovered from Kupwara avalanche site: Northern India 

Thousands stranded amid avalanche risk: Northern Italy

Attention Backcountry Skiers: Scientists want your help

Free companion rescue practise sessions in Whistler: January 20, 2018

Avalanche involvement in Orca Bowl: Fernie

Avalanche forecaster warns of large slides possible in Elk Valley: Cranbrook, B.C.