24 Sept 2018

September 24, 2018


    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    A Sz 2.5 avalanche on Mt Athabasca Sept 19, 2018. Report in article section.        ACMG Image

    A Sherpa has died after an avalanche on Dhaulagiri, Nepal. Article below.    Merio Beret Image


    Big dump for New Zealand. High avalanche danger in the Backcountry!!                           Net Pic


    PAST WEEK:

    Tuesday morning September 18, 2018. Sunrise was at 06:52 Hrs. +1 Deg C at 1835 meters.

    Wednesday morning September 19 2018. + 3.5 as of 06:45.

    Thursday morning September 20, 2018. +1 at 07:00 Hrs.

    Friday morning September 21, 2018. +3 Deg C at 07:00 Hrs.. Warm front pushing through.

    Saturday morning September 22, 2018. As of 07:00 hrs +3.5 Deg C.

   Sunday morning September 23. 2018.  +2.8 Deg C at 07:00 Hrs.


Weather Observations for September 24, 2018  taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        +1, Winds were 20-25 KPH N     --Horstman Hut
1860 meters        +3, Winds were   5-10 KPH NNE--Rendevous
1650 meters        +1, 0.0 mm in 12 hours --Pig Alley
  660 meters        +6, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +12.2, 0.3 mm of precip recorded yest


    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have clear skies with unlimited visibility and a valley cloud layer.



FORECAST:

High pressure for the next few days bringing warmer temperatures in a Northwest flow aloft. The Freezing level will spike to 4000 + meters on Wednesday. The upper level ridge will continue to build inland during the week but models are inconsistent in their solutions past Thursday. The ridge will begin drifting West at some point later in the week with an upper trough pushing in for the weekend. We may see some rain on Sunday.  Good chance we may see some cloud in the mix during the week as well. For the most part looks like a nice rain free week, enjoy!!



    GOES IR image from this am.


    High pressure is building, may see a few clouds around this am.


    Rex Block Pattern will bring nice weather into Thursday, possibly longer..

    Looking nice by this afternoon.


    Fronts along the coast.


    High maintains strength.

    We may see some cloud development. Warming up!

    High remains fairly stationary.

    More nice weather Wednesday.

    Thursday is looking nice.

    Another nice day on the South Coast.

    Looking nice on this model.

    High weakens and low pushes in.

    Low is winning for Sunday.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

     Avalanches, naturally came early to the Rockies.                                                         Rogers Pass

    Fresh snow on the Tantalus Range Monday September 17, 2018.

    High pressure pushes in Monday afternoon.

    A mix of sun and cloud on Tuesday. High of +17.3 in the valley.

    Wednesday started out as a mix of sun & cloud but cloudy later in the afternoon, stayed dry.

    Horstman Glacier Thursday morning.

    Snowline Friday morning.


    24.60 mm recorded at Pig Alley from Thursday at noon to 06:00 hrs Friday morning.
    40.10 mm recorded at Pig Alley from Friday at noon to 06:00 hrs on Saturday morning.
    13.20 mm recorded at Pig Alley from Saturday at noon to 06:00 hrs on Sunday morning.

    Pig Alley during a storm cycle winter 2018.

   Some snow in the upper elevations Saturday morning. + 0.5 Deg C at 2240 meters at 07:00 hrs.

    Fall equinox officially at 18:45 Hours Saturday September 22, 2018.

    Horstman Glacier Sunday morning.

    Unsettled Sunday, improving conditions as the high pushes in.

    Sunday afternoon at around 15:30 Hrs.




From South Coast Touring:

Early Turns on Brandywine Sept 19, 2018: Peter Nowicki




VIDEOS:

Elk charges tourist: Yellowstone

Avalanche on Dhaulagiri: Spring 2018

Mountain Collapsing: Val Ferret, Switzerland



ARTICLES:

Canadian avalanche involvement on Mount Athabasca: Mountain Conditions Report

Avalanche hits Sherpas on Dhaulagiri, one dead: Nepal

More info on the avalanche last spring involving the National Guard: Smugglers Notch

Managing avalanche terrain on Sleds: MAT

Avalanche warnings issued across South Island: NZ Snow Dump

Taft Colin's parents appealing sons Vail skier death case: Colorado

17 Sept 2018

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