March 4, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Two Spanish skiers have been killed in Pyrenean Avalanche, France. Story below.             Net Pic

   An avalanche has killed a hiker in the Vrancea Mountains, Romania. Story below.              Net Pic

    An avalanche has killed two ski tourers in Valais, Switzerland. Story in article section.   Net pic

    Size 3 from Thursday during or after the storm near Mount Currie.

    Wide propagation.

    Many Sz 2-2.5 Na after the last storm.

    Locally, Some Sz 1-1.5 Xc, Na, Nc. Sz 1-1.5 loose wet cycle noted yesterday.



    YESTERDAY:

    Early Saturday morning, a few clouds in the area.

    Low level cloud to the East.

    More cloud moved in as the day progressed.

    At times it was Blue Bird.

    High cirrus rolled in during the afternoon.

    Cloudier South of Whistler Saturday afternoon.

    Nice light Saturday evening.

    Sunset was at 17:56 Hrs.

    Saturday afternoon.

    Big picture on Friday.


Weather Observations for March 4, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters   -8, Winds were 10-20 KPH S   --Whistler Peak
1835 meters   -8, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE --Roundhouse
1660 meters   -7, trace of new, 1 cm in 24 hrs  Base 312 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters   -3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +4.3, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

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


FORECAST:

A dry upper level trough will bring overcast skies today with some intermittent snow flurries in a West-Northwest flow aloft. The freezing level will likely rise to 900 meters with day time heating.
We may see some unsettled weather tonight, but looks like more cloud cover for Monday with the chance of some flurries. Tuesday is looking unsettled as we may get some weak ridging with sunny skies by Wednesday. Temperatures will warm up and the FL could go as high as 1400 meters Wednesday afternoon. A warm front will bring flurries to the area Wednesday night with increasing cloud and light snow in the alpine Thursday.
Guesstimates: trace-3 cm by Monday morning, trace-3 cm by Tuesday morning, 0 cm by Wednesday morning, trace -2 cm by Thursday morning, 15-20 cm by Friday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Upper level trough for today.

    We might see some flurries.

    Unsettled.

    Fronts on the coast.

    Unsettled.

    Unsettled.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    There are certainly places with significant wind affect.

    Great skiing yesterday.

    Awesome snow!!

    Plate stellars.

    Cornices are getting very ripe.

    Burly skin track behind Mt Currie.

    Yesterday afternoon. An awesome day!!


Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Report:

Mount Seymour



ARTICLES:

Two Spanish Skiers were killed in a Pyrenean Avalanche: France

Avalanche kills 2 ski tourers in Valais: Switzerland

An avalanche has killed a hiker in the Vrancea Mountains: Romania

Mammoth Mountain closed after massive avalanche: California

Searchers recover body of Alaskan Snowboarder: Ketchikan

March 3, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in France has killed 4 skiers in Entraunes. Article below.                             Net pic

    An avalanche in La Grave has killed a young women. Story in article section.                     Net Pic

    Locally, not much activity. Xe cornice drop Sz 1. Sr Sz 1.5




    YESTERDAY:

    Overcast early Friday morning.

    Wedge Mountain, the West Couloir.

    Soft light in the am.

    Blackcomb with Fissile in the background.

    Whistler Mountain.

    There were some nice breaks in the afternoon.

    Nice snow in the trees.

    Great snow on the right aspect.

    Limited visibility Friday before dusk.

    Friday afternoon.

    Big picture from Friday.


Weather Observations for March 3, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters   -11, Winds were 20-30 KPH NE   --Whistler Peak
1835 meters   -10, Winds were 10-15 KPH NNE --Roundhouse
1660 meters   -10, 1 cm of new, 1 cm in 24 hrs  Base 316 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -4, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +5.5, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

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



FORECAST:

Unsettled weather today in a Northwesterly flow aloft. Sunny breaks this am with increasing cloud cover later in the day as a weak upper trough pushes into the area for Sunday. The freezing level could rise to 1000 meters with day time heating. Sunday will be cloudy with periods of light snowfall and the FL remaining at surface. Unsettled Monday with increasing cloud in the afternoon with some light snow. A weak ridge builds for Tuesday and Wednesday before a weak front moves onto the coast bringing some welcome snow on Thursday.
Guesstimates: 1-3 cm by Sunday morning, 5-10 cm by Monday morning, 4-6 cm by Tuesday morning.

    GOES IR image, Alberta surface low moving North. Unsettled on the Coast.

    Unsettled today with cooler temperatures.

    Unsettled this morning with an improving trend.

    Think the arctic front will bring some flurries later in the day.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Looking like cloudy skies for Sunday.

    Snow on Sunday.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Older debris from natural activity on Thursday.

    Wind affect in the alpine.

    Plate Stellars, click for explanation.

    Wind affect at tree line.

    Natural activity widespread from Thursday.

    Popped out, buried surface hoar?


Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Reports:

Blackcomb Slack

Sky Pilot



ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed a young women in La Grave, France: Orcieres Couloir

Avalanche kills 4 ski tourers in France: Guide Questioned

1 injured, several caught in avalanche at Squaw Valley: Lake Tahoe

Man buried in snow rescued after avalanche at Squaw: Video

Snowboarder dead in Blizzard at Tahoe: Avalanche Danger

More info on the avalanche that killed a guide at the WFT: Arcalis

Snowpack levels show dramatic decline in Western States: Oregon

Out-of-bounds snowboarder rescued just meters of West Vancouver Mountain Cliff: North Shore

March 2, 2018

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche has killed a ski instructor in the Spanish Pyrenees. Story in article section. Net Pic

     A mountain guide has died in an avalanche while inspecting WFT Venue, Andora. Story below.

    Locally, AC produced Sz 1-2.5 Xe Sc Xl. Some Na Sz 2 observed in surrounding areas.


    YESTERDAY:

    Blower Pow.

    Thursday afternoon.

    Big picture Thursday.


Weather Observations for March 2, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters   -8, Winds were 10-20 KPH NE--Whistler Peak
1835 meters   -8, Winds were   5-10 KPH NE --Roundhouse
1660 meters   -7, trace of new, 1 cm in 24 hrs  Base 325 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters   -4, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +4.2, 6.9 mm of precip recorded yest

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


FORECAST:

An upper trough will bring overcast skies today in a  Northwest flow aloft. The freezing level could reach 1000 meters today with daytime heating. There is a chance of some isolated intermittent snow showers this afternoon. A mix of sun and cloud for Saturday with a dry air mass and the FL going to 900 meters with day time heating, dropping back down to surface..  Sunday is looking mostly cloudy with some snow flurries possible and the FL going to 800 meters in the afternoon. No real snow coming until at least Wednesday, unsettled until the next front arrives.
Guesstimates: Trace-2 cm by Saturday morning, 0 new by Sunday morning, trace-2 cm by Monday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Low still affecting our zone.

    Cloudy skies with the possibility of some snow showers.

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    Flurries possible this pm.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Unsettled with sunny breaks Saturday.

    Improving on Saturday.





    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Conditions were awesome yesterday.

    Thursday afternoon. Unsettled.



VIDEO FRIDAY:

Speedrider sets off avalanche: France

Avalanche covers Hwy in North Cascades: SR20

Avalanche Rescue Skills: France

The Scientist who makes twin snowflakes: You Tube


ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed a ski instructor in the Spanish Pyrenees: Aramon Formigal

Mountain Guide killed in avalanche while inspecting FWT Venue: Vallnord-Arcalis, Andora

Police gives details of death of child under avalanche in Karakol Resort: Kyrgyzstan

Avalanche Risk 4 in Verbier: Safety & Tips