May 18, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Debris from an avalanche that was Heli bombed early May. Blackcomb Glacier Creek is open!

    Many trees were taken out. Yesterday there were no new avalanches observed locally.


    YESTERDAY:

    Early Thursday morning. Stratus layer was thick and up all the valleys.

    Northerly flow and high pushed low level stratus layer to the South.

    Looking Southwest still a stratus layer there.

    Valley cloud was gone by Noon.

    Eventually most of the cloud dissipated and it was clear to the South.

    Looking North early afternoon.

    Mid afternoon some large cumulus nimbus began developing to the North.

    Rain clouds were on the way. Lightning strikes to the Northeast.

    Rained for a brief while at around 16:00 Hrs, most of the energy was East of Whistler.

    Just before sunset. Most of the cloud was gone.

    By sunset the skies were almost clear.


Weather Observations for May 18, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    +5, Winds were 15-25 KPH N--Horstman Hut
1860 meters    +7, Winds were 15-25 KPH N--Rendevous
1550 meters    +8, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs  Base 135 cm --Catskinner

  660 meters    +6, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +23, 1.0 mm of precip recorded yest

   As of 07:00 Hrs we have a few clouds with unlimited visibility.


FORECAST:

A weak upper level low to our South is being held off by the high but we will likely see some cloud this afternoon with the chance of some showers with convective cloud development. The Northerly flow aloft will shift to Easterly later in the day with the FL going to around 3200 meters. A weak upper trough will push in for Saturday with the risk of thunderstorms and rain. We may get lucky with unsettled weather depending on the track of the low and will of the high. Sunday is looking unsettled before the ridge rebuilds for Monday into Tuesday.
Guesstimates: trace-4 mm by Saturday morning, 4-8 mm by Sunday morning, 0-2 mm by Monday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am. Weak upper level low in Washington State.

    Low to the South will be battling with the high, we may be spared the low and rain.

    Awesome looking morning.

    We might see some rain later in the afternoon. We may not!!

    Fronts along the coast.

    Likely showers and cloud for Saturday morning.

   Possible thunderstorm on Saturday.

    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Top of the Solar was obliterated.

    Moraines have been weeping.

    Only way across the creek if you come down Blackcomb Glacier. Will be gone soon.

    Snow is melting at an unbelievable rate for mid May.

   Water water everywhere.

   GOES Image from this am, looks like some big clouds to our South.


From Mountain Conditions Report:

Blackcomb Backcountry


ARTICLES:

Recent ENSO Discussion: Neutral Conditions are Present

June outlook for the U.S.: Its going to be a warm one

CDOT triggers avalanches to open Independence Pass: Colorado

Hot weather could bring more flooding to hard hit B.C. communities: CBC News

May 17, 2018

   AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Wet debris from a small avalanche yesterday.

   Loose wet.

   Appears a rock dislodged and produced a small wet loose slide.

    Glide cracks are getting noticeably wider.

    YESTERDAY:

    Clear to the South yesterday morning.

    A few clouds to the North.

    More cloud as the day progressed.

    Blackcomb Glacier is marked as ski area boundary.

    Clouds building to the West later in the afternoon.

    Late afternoon.

    Just after sunset Wednesday evening.

    Wednesday afternoon.

    Big picture Wednesday afternoon.


Weather Observations for May 17, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    +4, Winds were 20-25 KPH N--Horstman Hut
1860 meters    +4, Winds were   5-10 KPH N--Rendevous
1550 meters    +5, 0 cm of new snow, 0 cm in 24 hrs  Base 146 cm --Catskinner

  660 meters  +11, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +24.0, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am at 2180 meters we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.


FORECAST:

Marine layer finally made it inland with a stratus layer of cloud over the area. A weak upper trough to the South will move into our zone later today or early Friday. Presently we are in a Northerly flow aloft and the airmass seems fairly stable. The stratus layer should lift with day time heating and we will likely see a mix of sun and cloud later this morning. Still the chance of some showers today! Unsettled weather for the next few days with the ridge rebuilding for Monday. Chance of some lightning activity Friday and Saturday.
Guesstimates: 0-1 mm by Friday morning, trace-3 mm by Saturday morning, trace-2 mm by Sunday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Slightly cooler at 1550 meters.

    Stratus layer with mostly overcast skies.

    Hopefully the clouds wiill dissipate.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Nice in the morning.

   Unsettled in the afternoon.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Bikers taking advantage of the rapid melt.

    Nice spring conditions early in the morning.

   Glide cracks.

    Spring skiers.

   Creeks are opening up quickly.

   Marine layer has pushed into the valley overnight, image taken at 05:30 Hrs this am.

    Thursday morning, marine layer moved inland.


ARTICLES:

Zurich scientists develop device to rival the canine nose: Switzerland

Ortovox issues recall of 3+ avalanche transceiver running software version 2.1: Freeskier

Snowmobilers chase a bear in Viral Video: Not Cool