February 8, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Locally, A few Sz 1-1.5 Sc Sa including the Duffey, some moist snowballing above & below TL.


    YESTERDAY:

    Snow line yesterday morning was at 1200 meters.

    Some fresh snow above 1200 meters.

    Periodic snow at 1860 meters yesterday.

    There were also some thin cloud in the area at times.

         Snowing at 1860 Meters on Wednesday. It was wet snow!!

    Its way too early for spring!!

     Raining in the valley at 17:00 Hrs. + 4 Deg C.

    Wednesday afternoon.

    Big picture Wednesday afternoon.

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

2180 meters     -3, Winds were 50-60 KPH SE   --Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -1, Winds were 25-50 KPH SSW--Roundhouse
1660 meters      0, 2 cm of new, 2 cm in 24 hrs  Base 287 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters    +5, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +0.8, 0.2 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

A weak frontal band and associated low will leave the area this am with some lingering flurries and a drying trend. A Northwest flow aloft will gradually bring some cooler air into the area with the FL dropping to surface by tonight. For today we can expect some breaks in the morning with some intermittent snow flurries. Unsettled for most of the day with increasing breaks this afternoon. The arctic front will bring some cooler temperatures to the area Friday, some lingering cloud likely in the morning with sunny skies in the afternoon. This pattern will continue into next week with a mix of sun and cloud. The FL will remain near the surface Friday then bounce up and down over the weekend with it dropping to surface in the evenings and hovering at around 1200 meters with day time heating.
Guesstimates: Trace-1 cm for today, no snow after that until sometime next week depending how the high and arctic front react. Models are not agreeing with respect to next week. Standby.

Maximum gust at 2240 meters was at 22:45 yesterday, 170 KPH. At 2180 meters it was at 12:45 today, 148 KPH.

    GOES IR Image this am, Low has moved to the Southeast.

    Arctic front will be more of the influencer today and tomorrow.

    Possible flurries this am with breaks later this morning.

    Unsettled for today.

  Fronts along the coast.

    Sunny and cold Friday.


    OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Short lived breaks Wednesday morning.

    Tree line cornice development.

    Some melt freeze in the cornices at 1900 meters.

    Visibility in the alpine was difficult, -2-- 65-130 KPH yesterday afternoon at 2260 meters.

    Some lifts were closed yesterday with the strong winds.

    Flurries in the afternoon.

    Still working on opening the Horstman T Bar.

   A new candidate for the CARDA program with an experienced dedicated trainer!!

    Yestrday just after noon, looks like lots of snow for the interior.


ARTICLES:

Complex snow pack with the potential for remotely-triggered avalanches: Mountain Sledder

Hwy 16 closed in both directions from Terrace to Prince Rupert: Avalanche Closure

Should you use an avalung?: Powder

Closed for avalanche control: Highway 1

New MSU study asking why people take risks with avalanches: Montana

February 7, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche has killed a freerider on Mt Izraski Golets in Russia. Story in article section. Net Pic

    An avalanche in the Khibing Mtns in Russia has killed a snowboarded: Article below.  Net Pic

    Locally, cornice control depositing large debris in the bowls.

    YESTERDAY:

    Snow line came down to 1000 meters, Tuesday morning.

    Glimpse of Ipsoot yesterday morning.

      Some flurries started at around 10:00 Hrs.

    Variable visibility and snow conditions on Tuesday.

    Tuesday afternoon.

    Big picture Tuesday afternoon.

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

2180 meters     -3, Winds were 55-65 KPH SSW--Whistler Peak
1835 meters      0, Winds were 10-35 KPH SW   --Roundhouse
1660 meters    +1, 2 cm of new, 3 cm in 24 hrs  Base 288 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters    +3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.4, 1.5 mm of precip recorded yest

FORECAST:

A weak warm weather system will push through today in a Westerly flow aloft. We can expect overcast conditions with periods of light precipitation and the FL maxing out at around 1900 meters for today. A stronger cold front is expected later tonight into early Thursday with the FL dropping to surface by Thursday night as we get some clearing and cooler air. Friday at this time looks unsettled, with sunny skies forecasted for Saturday. Models are waffling on Sunday, more on early next week as we get closer.
Guesstimates: 8-12 cm by Thursday morning above 1700 meters,  2-6 cm by Friday morning.

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

    GOES IR image this am. Most of the precip is North of our zone.

    High, Low, and Arctic front still mingling. Warm high will have the biggest influence.

    Wednesday morning.

    Later today.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Thursday morning.



    OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Valley layer was very thick and moist.

    Some thinner high cloud in the morning.

    Nice dry snow at the top 300 meters and nice spring snow on the bottom 300 meters yesterday..

    Avalanche dog in training!!

    Brushed by us, with some light snowfall. Image taken around 12:00 Hrs yesterday.


Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Reports:

Sperahead Glacier

Sc Sz2 Cayoosh Mtn.


ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed a snowboarder in Khibing Mountains: Russia

An avalanche has killed a Freerider on Mount Izraski Golets in Kemerovo: Russia

An avalanche has killed a school boy in Danaurovka in Tatarstan: Russia

What caused Twin Mega avalanches in Tibet: Earth Observatory

Researchers tap into experience for mountain guides to develop avalanche decision tools: CTV News

Two avalanches descend on Kyrgyztans Roads: Closed

February 6, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche has killed an off piste skier in Austria. Story in article section.                    Net Pic

    Cornice control work produced this avalanche on Flute yesterday. Nasty debris in the bowl.

    Yes we get facets.

    Cleaning up a controlled avalanche on Hwy 31A. Story below.                                         Net Pic



    YESTERDAY:

    Sucker Hole Monday morning.

    Image from 13:00 Hrs, just after the images from below were taken!!

    Mid mountain was nice with spring skiing conditions depending on aspect.

    No snow in the trees in the valley, High at 660 meters yesterday was + 4.9 Deg C.

    Difficult visibility in the alpine with variable snow conditions depending on aspect & elevation!!

    Nice light later in the day.

    Monday afternoon.

    Big picture on Monday.

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

2180 meters     -4, Winds were 20-25 KPH SW--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -5, Winds were 10-15 KPH SW   --Roundhouse
1660 meters     -4, 1 cm of new, 1 cm in 24 hrs  Base 295 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +4.9, 0.7 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have high overcast and variable visibility.

FORECAST:

Ground hog day with a weak weather system similar to yesterday, but with a bit colder airmass and some light precipitation. Northwest flow aloft will continue today with the high building off the coast. A stronger weather system for Wednesday and Thursday will bring some much needed snow, the FL in the next few days hovers in the 1400 meter range with a spike to 1800 meters on Wednesday, dropping back to surface by Thursday night. Friday is looking unsettled as the high pressure begins to push into our zone. Long term we can expect the warm high to bring sun and warmer temperatures.
Guesstimates: 4-8 cm by Wednesday morning, 10-15 cm by Thursday morning, 10-15 by Friday morning.

    GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

    High is inching closer.

    High off the coast with weather coming down from the Northwest.

    Not much happening!!

    Fronts along the coast.

    More weather from the North.


    OBSERVATIONS & INFORMATION:

    Cornices are getting large and have produced Sz 3 avalanches when controlled with explosives .

    Uprooted.

    Still snow in the alpine, but variable conditions above 1650 meters yesterday.

    Many alpine bowls have large debris in them.

    Snow Art.

    Around 13:00 Hrs yesterday afternoon.

    Unsettled yesterday afternoon.

    Awesome fundraiser last night.



Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Reports:

Duffey Lake Area

Sky Pilot Area




From South Coast Touring:

Matt Kertesz February 5 at 4:13pm

Report from Keiths hut this weekend.  While doing laps from keiths hut on Feb 4 between 1400h and 1500h a person in our party triggered a size 1 slab 5cm-10cm deep width of 10m ran for 15m. Skier traversed away unaffected, we regrouped and descended safely.   Eric Carter February 5 at 6:25pm Pretty big slide from the North bowls of Sky Pilot running down the gully that the summer route takes - maybe Saturday? Nick at left for scale. Edited a bit for contrast because of bad vis. Pretty big slide from the North bowls of Sky Pilot running down the gully that the summer route take.

ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed an off piste skier in Carinthia: Austria

More details on the Valemount avalanche death: Avalanche Canada

Update on the avalanche that killed 2 people near Compo Felice: Italy

Identify, assess, and take action to lower risk of Avalanche Injuries: WorkSafeBC

Avalanche clean up completed on Hwy 31A between Kaslo & New Denver: TMTV News