Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog: January 20, 2015

Just prior to sunrise which was at 08:02 Monday January 19, 2015.

Early morning sun, Monday January 19, 2015.

Explosive control yesterday morning produced this avalanche in Sudan Couloir. SR Pic

Was certainly an unsettled aft, not sure why some sites were forecasting cloudy all day.

Bottom of the Wizard chair on Blackcomb, January 19, 2014.

Weather Observations for January 20, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters -9, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the SSW
2180 meters -8, Winds were 10-15 KPH from the W
1860 meters -7, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the E
1835 meters -7, Winds were 5-10 KPH from the SSW
1650 meters -7, No new new snow, Base 158 cm
1550 meters -6, No new new snow, Base 128 cm, Relative Humidity 92%.

660 meters -1, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +4.5.

Avalanche control yesterday produced Size 1-1.5 slab results.

As of 07:00 Hours we have clear skies and unlimited visibility. A thin stratus layer above the valley.

For the forecast, a weak trough has moved Eastward, we will see clear skies for this morning, possibly changing to unsettled conditions with a mix of sun and cloud later today with some cloud development. The upper flow will be dry and stable from the Northwest. The upper level ridge is building this morning into Wednesday morning and weaken by Wednesday afternoon as a series of weak fronts approach the coast in a Southerly flow. There is not much precipitation associated with these weak fronts, and there will be unsettled conditions at times as they pass. Freezing levels will fluctuate between surface (now) and slowly increase to 1800 meters by Thursday evening. As of now it appears that a warm air mass will raise the freezing level above the local peaks by Friday evening and remain there for most of the weekend. Guesstimates 2-3 cm by Thursday morning above 1000 meters. Light rain could be in our future for the weekend. More on that later.

ARTICLES:

Man injured in West Fjords Avalanche: Iceland

Rising freezing levels for later in the week: Avalanche Canada Weather

A Black Spot on a white landscape: Iceland

Terrifying moment-avalanche forms under a skier in Colorado: Lucky, Stayed on Surface

German buried by St Moritz avalanche dies: Switzerland

Bottom of Whistler in the Town Centre, Monday afternoon.

Backside of Flute Paige Bell Photo

Paige Bell Image

Unwitnessed but highly suspect Sa sz 1.5 on convex indicator roll, N aspect, 30-35 degree slope, 1850 m, wind loaded feature from yesterday's strong S'ly winds and storm snow. 25-40 cms deep, 25m wide by 180 m long.

Suspect it happened early in the day Jan 19, 2015. An obvious ski track disappears into the centre of the fracture line and exits 120 m lower on the slope, skiers right.

Jamie talked to the involved individual, he said he ski cut it at the roll with no result and it released several turns into it. He skied off to the side.

Another Perspective. Matt Gunn Photo

Thanks to Eric Graham for these observations and photos:
1st run of the day we got some pocket wind slabs to move,sz2 that went on the mid Jan rain crust(I think were calling it Jan.15) This was on Miller ridge a run we call 'White Bark" just above tree line about 6800 ft on a north east aspect.Slab was stiff pencil top /1 finger lower down.Yesterdays winds were evident. Snow was very wind pressed out there today higher up,had that drum feeling and we were cautious but no action,very few naturals observed,I saw zero anyway. Cheers,Erik.