February 19, 2019

    YESTERDAY:

    First light Monday morning.

    Awesome colours yesterday morning.

    High cloud to the North in the am, eventually dissipated.

    Blue Bird in the afternoon to the North.

    Clouds were moving up from the City.

    Near the end of the day.

    Super snow moon Monday evening.


Weather Observations for February 19, 2019 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -13, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE--Horstman Hut
2180 meters     -12, Winds were 10-20 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -10, Winds were   5-10 KPH S--Rendevous
1835 meters     -10, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE--Round House
1650 meters       -8, trace of new, trace in 24 hrs, Base 248 cm--Pig Alley
1565 meters       -8, trace of new, trace in 24 hrs, Base 179 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters       -4, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +0.1, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

    As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have obscured skies, limited visibility and it is snowing lightly.

FORECAST:

A cool weak upper level trough will bring some periodic flurries to the area today in a Westerly flow aloft. The FL may go up to 800 meters today, dropping back to surface tonight. Unsettled Wednesday morning as the trough exits the area with a drier Northerly flow for Wednesday afternoon with sunny weather returning. Offshore ridge strengthens for Thursday with mostly sunny skies, clouds likely in the afternoon as the low out of the North gets closer. Overcast and snow for Friday as a cool upper low moves down the coast out of the North. Unsettled for Saturday. Guesstimates: 1-3 cm by Wednesday morning, 5-10 cm by Saturday morning, trace-2 cm by Sunday morning.

    GOES IR image from this am.

    Overcast with some flurries for today, FL may rise to 800 meters.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Wednesday will be mostly sunny as the ridge rebuilds.

    High pressure for Thursday, may see some clouds spill in from the North in the pm.

    Low to our North will bring some snow for Friday.



    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche on Runner Peak, one subject missing. Article below.                           NS SAR Pic

   Sa Sz 2 injured ski tourer near Mt Casper. MIN report below.                           Darren Saul Image


 Pemberton SAR responded to an avalanche east of Mt Caspar Feb 17 (east side of VanHorlick drainage). Sa sz 2 wind slab on SW aspect, start zone at 2300m running down to 2000m. Event occurred at about 1500 hours. Triggered by subject boot packing down the slope to assess the terrain, broke on a convexity 30m above them. Carried him through the gulley sustaining rib and back injuries. Taken to clinic for treatment.  AvCan rating for SC Inland was 2/1/1/ for Sunday.

    Nasty long ride.                                                                                                      Darren Saul Image

   Location where two men were killed in Death Pass, CAIC report in article section below. CAIC Pic

    Locally, no new avalanches observed. Sluffing on steep slopes.



    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Merging of two separate clouds.

    Snowmobilers have been busy in the backcountry.

    Tracks are every where!!

    What can I say!!

    Clouds creeping in from the South.

    Big picture yesterday afternoon.



Avalanche Canada MIN Reports: 

East of Mount Casper: Feb 17, 2019

Cerise Creek: Feb 17, 2019

Matier NW Face: Feb 17, 2019



ARTICLES:

Code Alpha--Hiker rescued, second missing after avalanche on Runner Peak: CTV News

Hiker rescued, search called off for second man after avalanche near Mt Seymour: CBC News

No injuries following avalanche on Mount Fernie: Fernie SAR

Three live after avalanche burials: Jackson Hole

Sz 4 avalanche hits Mount Shasta in Avalanche Gulch: California

Technical report from Crested Butte Slide at Death Pass : CAIC

New Avalanche beacon checkpoint at Kootney Pass: Nelson SAR

February 18, 2019

    YESTERDAY:

    Blue Bird Sunday morning.

    There were even fresh tracks to be had.

    Some clouds to the South by mid morning.

    Spearhead Peak in the afternoon.

    Cloudier later in the afternoon to the Southwest.

    A few high thin clouds to the East near the end of the day.

    Blue Bird again just before sunset.


Weather Observations for February 19, 2019 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters     -12, Winds were 10-15 KPH SW--Horstman Hut
2180 meters     -11, Winds were 10-15 KPH W--Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -11, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE--Rendevous
1835 meters     -10, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE--Round House
1650 meters     -11, 0 cm of new, 0 cm in 24 hrs, Base 250 cm--Pig Alley
1565 meters     -10, 0 cm of new, 0 cm in 24 hrs, Base 180 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -12, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.2, 0.0 mm of precip recorded yest

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

FORECAST:

An upper level ridge will bring sunny skies this am in a Northerly flow aloft. The FL could rise to about 800 meters with some clouds moving in by this afternoon. The ridge will dissipate later today allowing a weak front into the area tonight. A Northwesterly flow will bring light snow and overcast skies for Tuesday into Wednesday. The ridge rebounds again for Thursday before a stronger frontal band moves in for Friday, dissipating on Saturday. Guesstimates: 2-4 cm by Wednesday morning, trace-1 cm by Thursday morning.

    GOES IR Image from this am.

    Upper level ridge with a frontal band moving down the coast from the North. Warmer.

    Fronts along the coast.

    Weak front moving in from the North for Tuesday.

     Weak front for Wednesday, mostly cloudy with little precipitation.

     Ridge rebuilds on Thursday.



    AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

    An avalanche near Crested Butte has killed two men. Article below.                               Net Pic

    Loose dry point releases in the morning.

    Loose dry.

    Sz 1 loose dry.

    Point releases below Boney Basin. Reports of a Sz 1 windslab on Whistler Sc. Sc Sz 1.5 out of CC.


    INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

    Northerly winds in the morning.

    Surface hoar was growing.

    Spindrift Sunday morning.

    There were a lot of people in the backcountry yesterday.

    Many tracks in Carona.

    Sa dry sluffs.

    Big picture Sunday afternoon.


From Avalanche Canada MIN Reports: 

BTL Duffey Area: Feb 16, 2019

Heart Strings wind slab: Feb 17, 2019

Taylor Meadows solar warming: Feb 17, 2019

Spearhead Glacier: Feb 17, 2019



ARTICLES:

Colorado avalanche kills two skiers: Crested Butte

Skier breaks arm in avalanche at Glacier national Park: Golden, B.C.

Avalanches bury ID-21 under more than 30 Feet of snow: Idaho

'Never let your guard down' Utah avalanche experts offer Safety advice: Salt Lake City