March 5, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    2 Snowmobilers die, 2 injured in an avalanche near Esmeralda Peak in Washington State. Net Pic

    Several avalanches have killed skiers in France. Articles below.                                             Net Pic

    An avalanche in Austria has killed a skier. Story below.                                                        Net Pic

    An avalanche has killed a ski tourer in Switzerland. Story below.                                    Net Pic

    No new results from Avalanche Control yesterday.

    Skier remote in the Spearhead Yesterday, see MIN report below.                    Simon Thomson Pic


    YESTERDAY:

    Nice light Sunday morning.

    Periods of snow and variable visibility.

    Unsettled all day.

    Lots of tracks in the park.

    Flurries later in the afternoon.

    Sunday afternoon.

    Big picture on Sunday.


Weather Observations for March 5, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters   -12, Winds were 30-35 KPH SW--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -9, Winds were 20-30 KPH SW--Roundhouse
1660 meters     -7, 2 cm of new, 3 cm in 24 hrs  Base 310 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -3, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +1.6, 0.3 mm of precip recorded yest

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

FORECAST:

A weak dry upper level trough will bring overcast skies in a Northwesterly flow aloft for today. There is a chance of some breaks later today with isolated flurries and the freezing level possibly going up to 1000 meters. A weak upper ridge will begin to build on Tuesday with dry unsettled weather. Wednesday is looking sunny with the FL reaching 1200 meters. A weak dry low will bring some very light intermittent snow with overcast skies for Thursday with warmer temperatures.
Guesstimates: 1-3 cm by Tuesday morning, 0 cm for Wednesday morning, 0 cm for Thursday morning, 2-6 cm by Friday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

     Unsettled today with cool temperatures from the Arctic front.

    Mostly cloudy in the am.

    Unsettled later in the day.

    Fronts on the coast.

    Mix of sun and cloud.

    No snow forecasted for Tuesday.



    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Snow makers are busy.

    Making snow on the Horstman Glacier.

    Old fracture line from last Thursday.

    Some people like to be visible even if they do not like the colour orange!

    Biggest hole of the day.

    Lights are cool.

    Steeps were skiing well.

    Flurries all day, 1 cm recorded at 1550 meters by 14:30 Hrs, Base at Catskinner is 231 cm.

    Sunday afternoon.


Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Reports:

Round Mtn

Spearhead/Vista

Skier remote Sz 2.5-3

From South Coast Touring:

Scott Mackenzie March 4 at 10:37pm

magnesia hut has been reopened for the season.... not for the Claustrophobic. We defiantly slept with our shovels inside :) west facing below the hut skied awesome today but super short runs. the south facing harvey basin was horrible crusty survival skiing getting back out. baked in the sun sat. constant mix of sun / cloud / snow all weekend. skis on / off a few switch backs up the logging road. not a big hike

ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed 2 snowmobilers, injured 2 near Esmeralda Peak: Washington State

Skier dies from injuries sustained in avalanche on Hochlkarspitze: Austria

Avalanche kills skier near Vallorcine in Haute-Savoie: France

Avalanche kills skier near Aiguille Des Posettes near Vallorcine: France

Avalanche kills skier on Violenhorn near Barchenin in Valais: Switzerland

BRO driver killed in an avalanche in Kupwara: Northern India

Another death by Snow Immersion Suffocation at China Peak Resort: California

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