February 15. 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche kills skier at Gavarnie-Gedre in France. Information in article section. Net Pic

    Locally, some touchy isolated soft slabs Sz 1. AC produced Sz 1.5-2 Xc, Xa, Xe.

    Cornice shift in Scotland.                                                                         walkhighland.co.uk pic



    YESTERDAY:

    Looking into the Squamish Valley early Wednesday morning.

    Tantalus Lookout early Wednesday morning.

    Cloud eventually burned off.

    Awesome Valentines Day.

    Howe Sound.

    Whistler Mountain West Bowl.

    Blackcomb Bowl                                                                                                   Greg Dixon Pic

    Days end.

    Some colour at sunset.

    Wednesday afternoon.

    Big picture on Wednesday.



Weather Observations for February 15, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters   -13, Winds were 10-20 KPH NNW--Whistler Peak
1835 meters   -11, Winds were   5-10 KPH NNE  --Roundhouse
1660 meters   -12, 0 cm of new, trace in 24 hrs  Base 287 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -9, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.3, 1.9 mm of precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 hrs this am we have high overcast and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

High thin cloud this morning with increasing cloud cover by this afternoon in a Northwesterly flow aloft. The FL will remain near surface and light snow can be expected by this afternoon. The front will slowly move through on Friday with a slightly stronger frontal band on Saturday. The high will likely build on Sunday into Monday with mostly sunny skies.
Guesstimates: 4-8 cm by Friday morning, 8-12 cm by Saturday morning, 15-25 cm by Sunday morning.

    GOES IR image this am.

    Low, High, and Arctic front still in the mix.

    Clear this am with clouds on the way.

    Light snow by this afternoon.

    Fronts on the coast.

    A bit warmer tomorrow , freezing level could go up to 1200 meters.

    Break before a more vigorous front arrives Friday night into Saturday.

    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Porteau Cove.

    Snowed down to the ocean early Wednesday morning.

    Snow on the Apron.

    Great snow conditions on WB.

    Some clouds around yesterday afternoon.

    Mountain Biking on Alta Lake.

    Dry snow to the valley.

    Alpin glow Wednesday evening.

    Sunset was at 17:27 Hours.


From South Coast Touring:

Grant Baldwin

Yesterday

North aspect on North shore poppin this morning. Propagated 60m wide

ARTICLES:

Avalanche kills on piste skier in the Hautes-Pyrenees: France

Avalanche warning in Colorado: Vail

Snowboarder rescued after avalanche in Bansko: Romania

Avalanche Start Zone-You might be in harms way and not even know it: Mountain Sledder

Safety Minister urges B.C. backcountry users to make safety a top priority: Victoria

February 14, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Locally, no new avalanche activity to report.

    Cornice drops have been creating some significant results.

    Happy Valentines day!!



    YESTERDAY:

    A grey morning.

    Still making snow at the bottom.

    Looking Northeast Tuesday morning.

    Some breaks.

    A brief patch of blue to the West.

    Lenticular clouds in the afternoon off to the West.

    Snow conditions are still good in the alpine.

    Tuesday afternoon!

    Tuesday afternoon, front is creeping down the coast.


Weather Observations for February 14, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters     -9, Winds were 10-25 KPH NNE--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -8, Winds were   5-10 KPH NNW--Roundhouse
1660 meters     -7, 11 cm of new, 11 cm in 24 hrs  Base 288 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +1.9, 5.0 mm of precip recorded yest

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


FORECAST:

The cold front has exited with some unsettled weather this morning in its wake. A northwesterly flow aloft and some weak ridging will bring mostly sunny skies by the afternoon, with the FL rising to around 1000 meters.  An upper short wave trough will arrive on Thursday afternoon into Friday with some light snowfall. A more vigorous frontal band arrives Friday night into Saturday with a bit more snow. A cold upper trough arrives Sunday morning before Northerly flow aloft brings back sunny weather for Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday.
Guesstimates:Trace-2 cm by Thursday morning, 4-8 cm by Friday morning, 4-8 cm by Saturday morning, 10-20 cm by Sunday morning (on the high side but possible)

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Warm High with some arctic air added. 

    Possible flurries this am with a drying trend.

    High will bring mostly sunny skies.

    Fronts on the coast.

    Unsettled Thursday morning.

    Light snowfall Thursday night.

    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    A quiet morning on Tuesday, where did everyone go?

    Usually a good idea to read the signs.

    Hitting one of these is not usually good for you!! Hard to see with the new snow!!

                       Important information.

    Pre frontal clouds Tuesday afternoon.

    Clouds got thicker to the South as the day proceeded.

    Yesterday at 13:00 Hrs, more snow for central B.C.

    Standing on cornices may not be the smart thing to do.                                              Toby Salin Pic



ARTICLES:

Snowmobiler perishes in avalanche near Whistler from Trauma, There were some inaccurate reports:  Unofficial Networks

Road workers clear snow from 30 avalanches in West Fjords: Iceland

Innovative Research Program: Colorado

Scott E1 Electric Airbag: Backcountry Skiing Blog

Hopes fade for missing hiker as death toll rises on mountain: Scotland

Hwy 16 between Rupert & Terrace closed again: Avalanche Danger