December 10, 2019

    YESTERDAY:

    Monday December 9, 2019. 13:00 Hrs. +3.6 deg C with a 0-5 KPH South Breeze.

    Early Monday morning.

    Pre Frontal clouds were moving in by the afternoon.

    Great clouds Monday afternoon.

    Monday's Sunset.

    Image from Monday afternoon.

Weather Observations for December 10, 2019 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -2, Winds were 40-50 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters      -1, Winds were 35-50 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1860 meters       0, Winds were 10-20 KPH SW --Rendevous 

1835 meters     +1, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters      -1, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 38 cm --Pig Alley
1560 meters .     0, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs, Base   9 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      -3, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +0.1, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

    As of 07:00 hrs this am we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

A weakening frontal band is pushing through today in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The freezing level will slowly drop to around 1000 meters by tonight as we switch to a Westerly flow aloft. Unsettled this am, but should see some light snowfall at around noon until this evening. Another frontal band will push through Wednesday afternoon with light precipitation into Thursday morning. A weak upper trough will bring periods of light precipitation into Friday. Looks like we may see some weak ridging for Saturday. Guesstimates: 1-3 cm by Wednesday morning, 10-15 cm by Thursday morning, 8-12 cm by Friday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

     Low will send a weak frontal band into the area this afternoon.

    Fronts along the coast.

    More active frontal band for Wednesday, a bit warm but could get more than 10 cm!!

    Weak trough for Thursday, still might get at least 10 cm at tree line.

    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    Update on the avalanche fatality in Colorado.

    Results from Sunday.





    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Signage at the top of JC Chair.

    Happy uphill skiers on Whistler, heading to Pikas Traverse. High at 1835 m yest was +3.7 Deg C.

    High cloud slowly moved in during the afternoon.

    Snow looks nice in the alpine.

    We need snow!!!!

        Recent profile.

    Observations and Photo from Guillaume Otis, from South Coast Touring.


We have an interesting start of the season here on the coast to say the least. The unseasonably dry and sometime cool conditions have left us with a question mark to where we stand with the snowpack stability and avalanche hazard. Yet very few avalanche have been observed, the snowpack has produce positive and negative result throughout the past few days. We have found good skiing above 1700m with better coverage on Whistler than Blackcomb. The photo below really shows the different layers of wind slab, crust and sugary crystals this years snowpack is made off. Taking an avalanche course right now is a great way to learn about the many facets of avalanche hazard. At the moment our advise is to proceed with caution and gather more snow observation to make educated decision in avalanche terrain. The uncertainty and the spooky nature of the snowpack has our confidence in the stability fair to poor. Stay safe!



From Mountain Conditions Report:

Blackcomb Backcountry: December 8, 2019


From Avalanche Canada MIN Report:

Spooky Snowpack: Dec 7, 2019




ARTICLES:

CAIC report on the fatal avalanche on Diamond Peak: Colorado

Buried an hour, hiker survives Anchorage avalanche after stranger spots legs: Alaska

How many backcountry Skiers are out there: Moutain Culture

Do avalanche air bags lead to riskier choices among backcountry and out-of-bounds skiers: SFU

Better estimating snowfall depth remotely: PhysOrg

Action will speak louder than words: Pique

December 9, 2019

    YESTERDAY:

    Sunday December 8, 2019. 13:00 Hrs. -1.2 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH South breeze.

    Awesome morning.

    Sunday afternoon.

    Big picture Sunday afternoon.

Weather Observations for December 9, 2019 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -1, Winds were 15-25 KPH N--Horstman Hut

2180 meters       0, Winds were 10-20 KPH NNW--Whistler Peak
1860 meters       0, Winds were   5-10 KPH NNE --Rendevous 

1835 meters       0, Winds were   5-10 KPH S--Round House

1650 meters      -3, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 39 cm --Pig Alley
1560 meters .    -1, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs, Base   9 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      -2, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.1, 0.0mm of precip yesterday.

FORECAST:

The upper level ridge will bring mostly sunny skies in a Northerly flow aloft. The freezing level could reach 2200+ meters with an inversion. We will likely see some clouds near the end of the day. A weak front will arrive Tuesday afternoon with the possibility of some light intermittent flurries. More snow for Wednesday afternoon with a small forntal band, continuing into Thursday.
Guesstimates: 0 cm by Tuesday morning, 1-2 cm by Wednesday morning, 2-4 cm by Thursday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    High pressure for today.

    Fronts along the coast.

     Weak front for tuesday.

     Weak frontal band for Wednesday.





    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche has killed a woman in Colorado. Article below.                       File Pic by C Dennee

    2 snowmobilers went for a ride near Logan, Utah. Article below.                                 UAC Image


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Slowly filling in but we could use a meter or two soon!!!

    High in the valley yesterday was +2.1 Deg C.

   There is alot of green in this image.




FROM AVALANCHE CANADA MIN REPORTS:

Local Observations: Dec 8, 2019


Local observations and Avalanche Control:

Sz 1-2 winslabs with explosives control and cornice drops yesterday.
Some Sz 1-1.5 Na (natural) avalanches observed in the Sea to Sky Corridor.



VIDEOS:

Egan Basin Avalanche, Utah: Dec 7, 2019



ARTICLES:

Fort Collins woman killed in an avalanche on South Diamond Peak: Colorado

Calgarian has close call with avalanche while running in the Rockies: Lake Louise

Skier triggered inbounds wind slab avalanche: Mammoth, Calif.

2 snow mobilers rescued after being caught, carried by an avalanche on Idaho-Utah Border: Logan, 
Utah

10 Safety personnel caught in an avalanche in Kargil: Northern India

CDOT shifting toward safer methods for protecting busy highways from avalanches: Colorado

December 8, 2019

    YESTERDAY:

    December 7, 2019. 11:30 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 10-15 KPH SE wind.

    First ride up Saturday morning.

    Warm moist cloud layers.

    A few holes in the morning.

    Saturday afternoon.

    Big picture Saturday around noon.

Weather Observations for December 8, 2019 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -7, Winds were 25-40 KPH NNE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters      -7, Winds were 15-20 KPH N--Whistler Peak
1860 meters      -3, Winds were 10-20 KPH NNE --Rendevous 

1835 meters      -5, Winds were  calm KPH NNE--Round House

1650 meters      -4, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 40 cm --Pig Alley
1560 meters .    -3, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs, Base   9 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      -1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.0, 2.4mm of precip yesterday.

    As of 07:15 Hrs this am we have scattered cloud and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

A Pacific upper level ridge will bring mostly sunny skies for today in a Nort-Northwesterly flow aloft. The FL will likely climb to around 1200 meters with day time heating. Ridge holds for tomorrow with a mix of sun and cloud. A weak front is forecasted for Tuesday and Wednesday, with a slightly stronger frontal band for Thursday. Guesstimates: 0 cm by Monday morning, 0 cm by Tuesday morning, 1-4 cm by Wednesday morning.

    GOES IR image this am.

     High has pushed into our zone for today.

    Fronts along the coast.

    High in control for Monday.

        Low sends cloud our way on Tuesday.


    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

   An avalanche buried a hiker in Ghugach Park, Alaska. Article below.                             Net Pic


    INFORMATION AND OBSERVATIONS:

    If your not sure of something, ask the patrol!!

    Cougar Chutes and Purple Haze--we need some snow ASAP.

    Cafe Cliffs.


From Avalanche Canada MIN Report:

Local Observations: Dec 7, 2019



ARTICLES:

An avalanche buried a hiker in Alaska: Chugach State Park

Three ski tourers were caught in an avalanche and went for a ride: Italy

Avalanche concerns grow as snowfall continues in B.C. Interior: Avalanche Canada

SAC issues avalanche warning with the expected weather: Lake Tahoe