March 21, 2019

    YESTERDAY:

    Blue Bird Wednesday.

    Wednesday with a few high cloud to the Southwest.

    Armchair with some Na Sz 1-2.

    Looking into Creekside, not much snow down there.

    Sunset with a single cloud in the sky.

    Big picture Wednesday afternoon.


Weather Observations for March 21, 2019, 2019 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      +1, Winds were 15-20 KPH SE--Horstman Hut
2180 meters      +2, Winds were 20-30 KPH SE--Whistler Peak
1860 meters      +2, Winds were 10-15 KPH ESE--Rendevous
1835 meters      +3, Winds were 20-25 KPH SSE--Round House
1650 meters      +2, 0 cm of new, 0 cm in 24 hrs, Base 236 cm--Pig Alley
1565 meters      +4, 0 cm of new, 0 cm in 24 hrs, Base 167 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters       -3, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +17.1, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have clear skies, unlimited visibility and high thin cloud to the North.

FORECAST:

The persistent ridge of high pressure will continue to bring sunny warm weather for this morning in a Southerly flow aloft. We may see some cirrus cloud push into the area later this afternoon followed by a stratus layer moving up the coast. The FL should drop down to 1600 meters by tonight with the arrival of the cooler marine air.  The ridge will shift east on Friday, when a weak front will arrive with mostly overcast skies and some sunny breaks before we get some precipitation on Friday night into Saturday morning.  Weak upper trough and weak ridging will bring unsettled weather for Saturday into Sunday. The FL will fluctuate between 2000 and 800 meters, Friday to Saturday night.  We may see the return to sunshine on Sunday afternoon. Another weak front is forecasted to arrive sometime Monday into Tuesday but the High is still in the picture so more on that as we get closer. Guesstimates: 2-6 cm by Saturday morning above 1600 meters.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Another warm sunny day Thursday.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Low pushes in for Friday with unsettled weather before precip Friday night.

     Upper trough and weak ridging for Saturday, mix of sun and cloud. Cooling trend.

    High and low pushing each other around, guessing a sunny afternoon for Sunday.




    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

   An inbounds avalanche injured a quest at Silverstar Mtn Resort. Article below.               Net Pic

   A size 3 avalanche took 5 guests for a ride in Alaska. Article below.      Points North Heliskiing Pic

   Natural Sz 1-2 cycle Wednesday around 12:00 hrs.

    Na Sz 1 in Hidden Chute area.

    Na Sz 2

    Sc Sz 2 while area was closed. People leaving over 2 M of debris. Wet Loose cycle Wednesday.

    Wet loose out of Robertson's and Harvey's. 14:00 Hrs.

   Small Sz 1 Sc over the road.

    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Soaring temps have created many wet loose natural avalanches (Na) .

    Na Lakeside Bowl.

    Lakeside Bowl.

    Lakeside Bowl closed on Wednesday.

     Several Na Sz 1-2 & several Sz 1-2 Sc wet loose on Wednesday.

    Alpin glow on Hanging Roll.

    As of 14:00 hrs on the first day of spring at 1565 meters we have a base of 170 cm.


ARTICLES:

Man airlifted to hospital after avalanche at Silverstar Mountain Resort:CBC News

Five quests go for a ride in a Sz 3 avalanche in Alaska: Points North Heliskiing

Avalanche leaves group stranded on Lillooet River Forest Service Road: Keyhole Falls

Skier triggers avalanche outside Kimberley Mtn Resort: Kimberley SAR

Collision Skier Refused appeal: Planet.Ski

March 20, 2019

    YESTERDAY:

    Another Blue Bird Day.  Max temp at 2240 meters yesterday was +6.9 Deg C at 16:45 hrs.

    North facing slopes in the alpine were still nice.

    Some wind transported snow off piste.

    Castle Towers.

    Some high cloud to the West in the afternoon.

    Looking West.


Weather Observations for March 20, 2019, 2019 taken at 05:45 Hours.

2240 meters      +3, Winds were 20-30 KPH SE--Horstman Hut
2180 meters      +3, Winds were 25-35 KPH SE--Whistler Peak
1860 meters      +4, Winds were   5-10 KPH ESE--Rendevous
1835 meters      +6, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE--Round House
1650 meters      +2, 0 cm of new, 0 cm in 24 hrs, Base 240 cm--Pig Alley
1565 meters      +4, 0 cm of new, 0 cm in 24 hrs, Base 170 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters       -3, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +15.0, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.


FORECAST:

The ridge continues to bring sunny warm conditions in a Southerly-Southeasterly flow aloft. The FL will be above 3000 meters and we may see another day of record breaking temperatures. Onshore flow starts tomorrow with a change in the pattern, clouds will move in late tomorrow afternoon as a few weak frontal bands push through Friday and Saturday with seasonable temperatures. Still hard to put amounts on the precipitation but looks to be minimal. Back to unsettled weather for Sunday into Monday before the warm ridge rebuilds for next week. Guesstimates Trace-1 cm by Saturday morning, trace-2 cm by Sunday morning, better idea on amounts tomorrow.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Warm and sunny again today.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Warm but a change as the low strengthens for Thursday.

    Weak frontal band for Friday, cools down with the FL beginning to descend.

    Weak upper trough for Saturday, some showers expected.





           AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

           Point release to large event. Grizzly Lake/Powder Mtn area.                     Toby Salin Pic

    From one point release to multiple releases.                                                                Toby Salin Pic

    Images taken on Tuesday.                                                                                          Toby Salin Pic

    Large event, deep debris.                                                                                           Toby Salin Pic

    Poop Chute recent activity.

    Debris in Blackcomb Bowl from cornice control.

    Be careful when the light is flat on Friday and Saturday, lots of debris in alpine bowls.

    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Cornices develop below the tree line.

    Glide cracks.

    How long has the beacon checker been nonfunctional???

    Not many ski tourers venturing into the backcountry.

    Melt freeze at the lip of a cornice.

    Cornices will get moist with the warm weather.

    Spring has sprung!!!

    The crux of the Horstman T-Bar restoration project.

    Image from Tuesday afternoon.


ARTICLES:

Backcountry hazard soars: Avalanche Canada

Avalanche control planned for Hwy 1 East: March 20, 2019

Weak El Nino conditions are likely to continue into Spring 2019: NOAA

Second avalanche in a month hits Mt Shasta: California

All you need to know about the first day of spring: March 20, 2019