January 11, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche near Mount Jefferson has buried a snowmobiler and he is presumed dead. Net Pic

    An avalanche near the resort of Piau-Englay has killed a ski tourer. Story below.        Net Pic   

    An avalanche near Zermatt.                                                                                                   Net Pic

    Railway dug out near Zermatt, story in article section.                                                    Net Pic

    Locally not much to report, a few Sz 1's with Ski cuts. Reports of Sz 2 Sa in the slackcountry.


    YESTERDAY:

    Broken cloud early Wednesday morning.

    There were some nice patches of blue.

    Valley cloud built in the afternoon.

    Pre frontal clouds.

    Front arrived at around 15:00 Hrs with some isolated flurries.


Weather Observations for January 11, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters    -8, Winds were 15-20 KPH SE--Whistler Peak
1835 meters    -7, Winds were 10-15 KPH ESE--Roundhouse
1660 meters    -7, 1 cm of new, 1 cm in 24 hrs  Base 186 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters    -6, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.2, trace of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs we have overcast skies and variable visibility.


FORECAST:

A weak front is moving through this am in a Westerly flow. Unfortunatley most of the precipitation associated with the front will go South. The freezing level should remain at the surface until Friday. We may see some breaks in the weather tonight with a low moving onshore Friday with overcast skies and very light precipitation. Unsettled Saturday with cloud in the morning and breaks in the afternoon as a weak dirty ridge builds from the south with warm temperatures. The ridge will strengthen Sunday for a mostly sunny day. A more active front is forecasted for Monday into Tuesday.
Guesstimates: 5-10 cm by Friday morning, Trace-3 cm by Saturday morning, 1-3 cm by Sunday morning.

    GOES IR image this am, just missing us.

    Low pressure heading our way.

    Battle of the Arctic High and Pacific Low.

    Warm Fronts, Cold Fronts along the coast.

    More light precipitation for Friday.



    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Snow conditions were good on Wednesday.

    Good advice!!

    Most creeks are still open and difficult to navigate.

    Another multi cloud layer day.

    Wednesday afternoon.

    Big picture Wednesday, would be nice if those juicy looking clouds track towards us!!!


ARTICLES:

Idaho Falls snowmobiler presumed dead after avalanche: Mount Jefferson

An avalanche has killed a ski tourer in France: PisteHors.com

Skier injured by avalanche on Mount Seymour taken to hospital: CBC News

Elite skiers use dynamite to clear path to stranded skiers: Switzerland

How do ski resorts manage the risk of avalanches?: Euronews

Trains reach tourists stranded in Zermatt: Alp Snowfall

January 10, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche has killed a ski tourer in the Elk Valley, B.C.. Story in article section.           Net Pic

    A skier was rescued after an avalanche in White Pass, B.C. Story below.                      MIN Pic

    Avalanche over the tracks near Zermatt. Tourists stranded. Story below.                        Net Pic

    Locally, Sz 1-1.5 with Xe, Sc, Sa. Storm slabs.



    YESTERDAY:

    Early Tuesday morning.

    Breaks in the morning.

    Blackcomb Peak

    Multiple cloud layers!

    Obscured peaks at the end of the day.

    Dusk on Tuesday.

Weather Observations for January 10, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters    -10, Winds were 40-65 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1835 meters      -8, Winds were 30-40 KPH S--Roundhouse
1660 meters      -6, 1 cm of new, 2 cm in 24 hrs  Base 188 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters       0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +2.4, 6.7 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 06:30 hrs this am we have mostly overcast skies and unlimited visibility.


FORECAST:

Unsettled weather this morning before a weak front arrives later in the day in a Westerly flow aloft. The freezing level will rise to around 800 meters than drop back down to the surface tonight. We can expect periods of light snow once the front arrives in the area.  A stronger frontal system is due for tomorrow with light-moderate precipitation and strong winds. A weaker front is forecasted for Friday into early Saturday before a weak dirty ridge builds for Sunday. More warm stormy weather can be expected sometime Monday.
Guesstimates: 2-4 cm by Thursday morning, 15-20 cm by Friday morning, trace-2 cm by Saturday morning.

    GOES IR image for this am.

    Wednesday looking dull and colder.

    Front heading our way today.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Looking like some snow for Thursday.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Nice snow Tuesday.

    More snow on the way, always pay attention to the signs.

    Thick valley cloud and upper clouds.

    Hector the Avalanche Rescue Dog.

    More rime from the last front.

    Sz 1-1.5 slab avalanches from control work on Tuesday..

     Lots of shooting cracks with small storm slab activity (sz .5-1) running on crust.                Photo from Toby Salin 

    Just before noon on Tuesday. Clear in Georgia Strait.

    Big picture Tuesday afternoon.



Avalanche Canada recent MIN Report:

Duffy Lake



ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed a ski tourer on Mount McDermott: Elk Valley, B.C.

Skier rescued after being swept 200 meters in Mt Seymour avalanche: North Vancouver

Good luck & planning helped rescue skier from avalanche in White Pass, B.C.: CBC News

A Large avalanche cuts off the road to Bonneval-sur-Arc: France

Snow, avalanche risks strand 13,000 tourists in Zermatt: Switzerland

Windslab Fundamentals: NWAC Blog

January 9, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Lethbridge man rescued from avalanche on Alberta-B.C. border. Story below. Fernie SAR Pic

    Survivor of the avalanche in Kashmir tells story. Article below.                               Pic Nissar Malik

    Locally, avalanche control produced Sz 1-Sz 2 with Xe and Sc. Sa Sz 1 noted on steep lee terrain.


    YESTERDAY:

    Snowing to the valley early Monday morning.

    Snow laden trees in the valley.

    Thin cloud cover at around noon.

    There were some areas of nice soft snow yesterday.                                         

    Rime in the rocks at 2240 meters.

    Warm and moist at days end, -1.3 at 1550 meters at 16:30 Hrs on Monday.


Weather Observations for January 9, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters    -5, Winds were 30-55 KPH ESE  --Whistler Peak
1835 meters    -3, Winds were  10-25 KPH E      --Roundhouse
1660 meters    -2, 11 cm of new, 13 cm in 24 hrs  Base 188 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +2.0, 6.5 mm of precip recorded yest

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


FORECAST:

A weak cold front will push through today in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The freezing level will drop to the surface by tonight. The brunt of the moisture in todays front slid South and North of Whistler.
:( A weak dirty ridge will bring unsettled weather for Wednesday morning with a brief impulse of snow Wednesday night. A more vigorous front will push through on Thursday with strong winds and moderate snowfall. A short break Friday morning before another weak front pushes through into Saturday morning. A ridge begins to build for Saturady afternoon strengthening on Sunday with some sunny weather. Moist weather will likely return on Monday.
Guesstimates: 4-8 cm by Wednesday morning, 5-10 cm by Thursday morning, 10-15 cm by Friday morning, 1-3 cm by Saturday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am. Moisture went North & South.

    Weakening front for today.

    A weak front for us, most of the precipitation is heading South.

    Fronts along the coast. Seems the fronts are dumping just South & North of Whistler.

    Weak upper trough for Wednesday.



 INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Snowfall in the Sahara Desert, story below in article section.

    Tree skiing is getting better.

    KISS signs are the best.

    Rime in the alpine.

    Graupel falling near the end of the day.

    Where is the groom?

    Monday afternoon.

    Big picture Monday afternoon.

Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Report:

 Lesser Flute




ARTICLES:

Lethbridge man rescued from avalanche near Alberta-B.C. Border: Tent Mountain

French Alps on Red Alert, as avalanche threat reaches: Exceptional Level

The Importance of Youth Snow Safety Education: Powder

Kupwara avalanche survivor recalls seven hour ordeal: Kashmir

Snowed in skiers unlikely to get their money back on alpine holidays: Europe

Cold snap brings snow to the Sahara Desert: WUWT

Maximum avalanche risk flagged for Southern Switzerland: WSL