September 17, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Not much to report, army disposes of unexploded ordnance in summer. Story below.     Net Pic


    PAST WEEK:

    Tuesday morning 07:00 Hrs +2 Deg C.

    Wednesday morning sunrise at 06:43 Hrs, +2.2 Deg C at 1835 meters.

    Thursday morning September 13, 2018. Groundhog Day.

    Friday morning September 14, 2018. So far this week the days start off pretty much the same.

    Saturday morning September 15, 2018. Sunrise 06:47 hrs. +1 at 1835 meters.

    Sunday morning, +2 Deg C at 06:45 Hrs.


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

2240 meters         -2, Winds were 15-25 KPH S--Horstman Hut
1860 meters          0, Winds were 10-15 KPH S --Rendevous
1650 meters        +1, 1.6 mm in 12 hours --Pig Alley

  660 meters        +7, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +10.2, 4.2 mm of precip recorded yest

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

FORECAST:

Cool overcast conditions for this morning with some spotty light showers in a Westerly flow aloft. A very weak high pressure will slowly build with unsettled conditions expected some time today. Drier weather for Tuesday with a mix of sun and cloud, but cool temperatures. A weak trough will bring unsettled weather for Wednesday with some scattered showers. Mostly cloudy on Thursday but we may get a dry day before a low brings more rain for Friday into Saturday. Models are inconsistent for the long term lookout, its been a rather cool fall like pattern. Jet stream is not helping!! Some models are showing an improvement with a ridge building next week, that would be nice!!!

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Low is dominating the pattern.

    Weak ridge building from the South.

    Fronts along the coast.

     Low with cool temperatures.

    Low pushing down from the North.

    Tuesday is looking dry.

     Low may win out on Wednesday.

    Looking unsettled, may see a few showers.

    Low pushes in, may just see cloudy skies.

    High to our North, low to the South??

    Some models have the low bringing rain for Friday.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Big picture Monday September 10, 2018..

    A few breaks Monday afternoon.

    Another dusting, Tuesday morning.

    Tuesday afternoon. 1.8 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Dry during the day Wednesday, evening showers. 1.7 mm recorded at 660 meters.

    Thursday 3.3 mm of rain recorded in the valley.

    Another dusting Friday morning. -1.5 at 2240 meters 07:00 hrs.

    Fall colours Saturday!

    Snowing Saturday afternoon at 1700 meters. Persistent low with fall like conditions.

    Saturday, High to the North but low continues to plaque us with cool showery fall like weather.

    Sunday morning, -1 and snow was accumulating.

    Monday morning, -2 as of 07:00 hrs at 2180 meters.



VIDEOS:

How to use the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory: NZAA

New T Bar Design: Sweden

Glacier melt in B.C.: Older Video



ARTICLES:

Bomb disposal unit brought in to dispose of unexploded avalanche control shells: The Province

Avalanche forecasting, public awareness can save lives: India

Why skiers should care about El Nino: Powder

September 2018 ENSO update, El Nino possibilities: NOAA

Drones for Avalanche Search & Recovery: DroneBelow

Polaris partners with Pieps-Exclusive Polaris Avalanche Airbag: JetForce SC20L

Snow Cover change in Switzerland: SDC

Sharp rise in mountain deaths in Swiss Alps: SwissInfo

September 10, 2018

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Not much to report, still some sluffs, with new snow & a trigger in Argentina. SnowBrains Pic

    PAST WEEK:

    Tuesday morning September 4, 2018.

    Wednesday morning September 5, 2018.

    Thursday morning September 6, 2018.

    Friday morning September 7, 2018. Just before the rain showers came at around 06:30 Hours.

    Saturday morning September 8, 2018. On the wet side.

    Sunday morning September 9, 2018. 06:30 Hrs +4 Deg C.


Weather Observations for September 10, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters         -1, Winds were 25-40 KPH SSW--Horstman Hut
1860 meters        +2, Winds were 15-25 KPH SSE --Rendevous
1650 meters        +3, 4.7 mm in 12 hours --Pig Alley

  660 meters        +8, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +11.8, 8.6 mm of precip recorded yest

    Sunrise was at 06:40 Hrs this am, overcast with unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

An upper level low on the North coast will bring cloudy, cool, showery conditions to the area in a West-Southwest flow aloft. The freezing level today will start in the 2100 meter range rising to 2400 meters with day time heating. We may see the FL as low as 1800 meters by Thursday.  Yes, early snow flurries in the upper elevations.  The low will slowly drift down the coast leaving an upper level trough in the area for the remainder of the week. Monday and Tuesday look to have heavier showers then the rest of the week. Unsettled--Wednesday and Thursday, looking like a dry Friday with unsettled weather Saturday but models are inconsistent that far out. Possible drying trend on Saturday/ Sunday as a weak upper ridge has a chance of developing. Feels like fall is here!!

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Low will move down the coast today and Tuesday.

    Low pressure with showers and cool temperatures.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Low in our zone.

    Cold front moves down central B.C.

     Temperatures drop as the cold front pushes into the South Coast.

    Unsettled Wednesday, we may see some sunny breaks and snow in the upper elevations.

    Much cooler air on Thursday.

    Unsettled Thursday as well with a mixed bag.

    Cloudy Friday, may be dry.

    Saturday. Unsettled but likely cloudy with some light showers.

     Sunday may see some weak ridging but likely unsettled.



    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Monday afternoon at Whistler Peak.

    Awesome evening last Monday, mostly Blue by days end.

    Tuesday afternoon. High in the valley of +23 Deg C.

   Some blue skies on Wednesday. High of +28.3 Deg C in the valley.

    Days are getting shorter, sunrise on Thursday was at 06:34 Hrs. Sunset at 19:46 Hrs.

    Thursday turned into a beauty day, high of +27.4 in the valley.

    The Young Farmer's Almanac Winter Predictions for the coming winter.                            Net Pic

    Moisture Friday morning! 8.5 mm recorded in the Valley on Friday.

    Saturday brought some unsettled weather with 2.9 mm of rain recorded at 660 meters.

    Cold front heading our way on Sunday morning.

    Horstman Glacier Sunday afternoon.

Some Data on Rainfall amounts taken from the Nester's Weather Station at 659 meters.

Year     June     July     August         TOTALS

2008     28.4      24.9      94.2               147.5 mm
2009     28.0      13.5      33.9                 75.4 mm
2010     58.1        7.2      31.7                 97.0 mm
2011     25.2      39.4      21.2                 85.8 mm
2012     55.6      24.0      14.3                 93.9 mm
2013     56.5        8.1      80.6               145.2 mm
2014     20.4      37.5        2.8                 60.7 mm
2015     12.9      24.6      98.4               135.9 mm
2016     64.0      23.8      20.8               108.6 mm
2017     19.9      11.5        2.1                 33.5 mm
2018     42.4      15.2       11.0                68.6 mm

    Nester's Weather Station, 8.6 mm recorded on Sunday. Max temp in the valley was + 11.8 Deg C.

    Low to our North will slide down the coast.

    Early Monday morning, A very light dusting from last night. -1 at 05:30 at 2180 meters.

    Monday morning, chance of a few breaks to the blue.


VIDEOS:

Avalanche control device: Wyssen

Wind can be brutal on a haul rope: Argentina

An electric surfboard: Sweden


ARTICLES:

Helicopters holding fire that crossed into Canada at avalanche path: Waterton, Alberta

Three types of remote avalanche control used in B.C.: TranBC

Avalanche Beacons-Where is the best place to wear them: Snowbrains

Avalanches topic of forum: Colorado

Polar blast with heavy snow: New Zealand

Sled Season Preparation: Mountain Sledder

El Nino could cause wetter winters, drier conditions in other months in California: Science Daily

Vanishing Glaciers: Switzerland

Why Trumps tariffs could be bad for skiers: Powder