March 23, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche in the Spanish Pyrenees has killed 2 researchers. Story in article section. Net Pic

    A ski tourer has been killed by an avalanche on Tete de Vautisse, France. Story below.

    An avalanche has killed 3 mountaineers on Konigsspitze Mtn., Italy. Story below.   Net Pic

    Locally, AC produced mostly Sz 1 Sc Xe. A few Sz 1.5 Sc Xe.


    YESTERDAY:

    Moist in the valley Thursday morning.

    Snowing at 1000 meters, eventually the snow line dropped to the valley.

    Looking into the valley early Thursday morning.

    Fresh soft cord on some runs.

    Snowing 3 cm per hour for a while in the am.

    Snowing in the valley later in the day.

    Convective flurries at 18:00 Hrs.

    Breaks by 18:30 hrs.

    Just before sunset which was at 19:27 Hrs.

    Thursday afternoon.

    Big picture Thursday.




Weather Observations for March 23, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters   -11, Winds were 50-70 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -9, Winds were 20-40 KPH S --Roundhouse
1660 meters     -7, 8 cm of new, 24 cm in 24 hrs  Base 313 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +3.6, 9.2 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have overcast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing 1 cm per hr.



FORECAST:

The large closed low off the Northwest coast will bring mostly cloudy weather to the area today in a Southwesterly flow aloft. We can expect convective activity today with periods of moderate snowfall with hail possible at times as well. The freezing level will remain at or just above surface. The low will slip South tonight bringing dry unsettled weather to the area Saturday with the FL topping out at 1000 meters with day time heating. Sunday is looking cloudier, with some breaks in the morning but scattered flurries in the afternoon. Groundhog day for Monday, with some breaks in the morning but mostly cloudy with flurries in the afternoon/evening.
Guesstimates: 10-20 cm by Saturday morning, 1-2 cm by Sunday morning, 3-5 cm by Monday morning, 2-4 cm by Tuesday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

        Cold upper low off the coast, -7 at 1650 meters. (850 mb is about 1500 meters)

   Convective clouds may bring more snow than just flurries, always difficult to estimate.

    Low moves South tonight.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Unsettled weather for Saturday.

    Saturday is looking fairly dry.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Nice to see the snow in the trees!!

    Moist snow below 1500 meters Thursday morning.

    Conditions improved as the day progressed.

    14 cm recorded at Catskinner weather plot by 14:30 Hrs.

    Catskinner weather plot is at 1550 meters. 14 cm recorded there, 16 cm recorded at Pig Alley.

    Thursday afternoon at 16:00 Hrs. Cold front--Exit stage Right.



VIDEO FRIDAY:

Avy Dog Lift Evacuation: Colorado

Cliff Huck: Richard Permin

Bad Behaviour: Spraying Skiers

Avalanche Search: Verbier



ARTICLES:

Avalanche kills two researchers in Catalonia's Aran Valley: Spain

A ski tourer has died in an avalanche near Puy St Vincent, France: Ecrins Mountains

An avalanche has killed 3 mountaineers on Gran Zebru Mtn: Italy

Canadian Women survives avalanche in the French Alps in which a German Skier was killed: CBC News

Kin of French avalanche victims crowdfund to cover "Rescue Costs": Switzerland

Six avalanche deaths in 2 weeks highlight need for safe backcountry travel: Washington State

Technology improves skier safety gear: Salt Lake City

Snowmobiler escapes avalanche with airbag: Montana

March 22, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Third of four avalanche victims found, Switzerland . Update in article section.             Net Pic

    Locally, no new avalanche activity observed.


    YESTERDAY:

    Early Thursday morning.

    Around noon it was still overcast.

    Unsettled in the Afternoon.

    Flurries at around 16:00 Hrs.

   More cloud at around 18:00 Hrs.

    Wednesday afternoon.

    Big picture Wednesday afternoon.



Weather Observations for March 22, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters     -4, Winds were 40-70 KPH SE--Whistler Peak
1835 meters     -2, Winds were 20-55 KPH SE --Roundhouse
1660 meters      0, 6 cm of new, 6 cm in 24 hrs  Base 294 cm --Pig Alley

  660 meters    +2, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +9.5, trace of precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs we have obscured skies, limited visibility and it is snowing.


FORECAST:

Warm front is passing through, followed by a cold front later this morning in a Southerly flow aloft.
Overcast conditions with moderate snowfall above 1500 meters can be expected this morning , the freezing level will slowly drop to the valley by tonight. A large cold upper level low will continue to bring moderate snowfall tonight into Friday in a Southwesterly flow aloft. Saturday is looking unsettled as the low pushes South. By Sunday the flow will be Northwesterly bring periods of light snow to the area into Monday.
Guesstimates: 15-25 by Friday morning, 10-15 cm by Saturday morning, 0 cm by Sunday morning,
2-6 cm by Monday morning, 2-4 cm by Tuesday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Low is just North of us. FL is around 1600 meters. Colour full image.

    Cold front will push through this am.

    Large cold upper low will be here this afternoon.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Upper low moves down the coast.

    By Friday afternoon it keeps moving South.



    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    An awesome afternoon, golf course preparing for their season.

    At around 16:00 Hrs we had some breaks go through Whistler.

    GOES IR image from the same time period.

    This image taken at the same time as the above.


Recent Avalanche Canada MIN Report:

Tantalus Range



ARTICLES:

Recovery efforts continue, third body found in avalanche near Verbier: Switzerland

Rain or Snow? Humidity, location can make all the difference: Science Daily

Snowmobiler injured following avalanche at Mt Sawtelle: Idaho

Hwy 89 closed at Lower Emerald Bay road due to Avalanche: Lake Tahoe

Avalanche Types: SLF