21 Jan 2015

January 21, 2015

    Avalanche in St Anton, Austria claims two lives; story in article section.                       Internet Pic

    Stratus layer above valley floor January 20, 2015. Pine Martin tracks outside Horstman Hut.

    Stratus layer began to lift and dissipate by 09:30 hours Tuesday morning.

 
    Great colours yesterday morning                                                                      Tasso Lazaridis Photo

    Good to see some snowmaking production yesterday!

    High cirrus cloud moved in yesterday afternoon.

   Tricouni Peak yesterday afternoon, January 20, 2014.


Weather Observations for January 21, 2015; taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters        -6, Winds were 20-35 KPH from the SSE
2180 meters        -5, Winds were 25-30 KPH from the SSW
1860 meters        -2, Winds were 15-25 KPH from the ENE
1835 meters         0, Winds were 10-25 KPH from the SSW
1650 meters        -3, No new new snow, Base 155 cm
1550 meters        -2, No new new snow, Base 182 cm,  Relative Humidity 83%.
  660 meters        -4, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yest +2.5.

    As of 07:00 Hours we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility.


For the forecast, the upper level ridge will weaken today with increasing clouds moving into the zone during the day. Freezing levels will rise to 1500 meters this afternoon. A weak warm front will move onshore this evening with light precipitation and a freezing level around 1000 meters. The ridge will allow cloud into the area for Thursday but we should see some sunny breaks with the possibility of some isolated flurries in the upper elevations. Freezing levels will rise to 1800 meters by Thursday evening. A strong frontal wave in a Westerly flow will move onto the coast Thursday evening bringing rising freezing levels, strong winds and moderate to heavy precipitation for Friday. Freezing levels for this event will hover around 2300 meters.  The front will weaken for Saturday with light precipitation in a moist warm air mass. Sunday as of now looks mostly cloudy, drying out, but the freezing level will top out at around 3200 meters. A ridge begins to build for Sunday evening bringing warm dry sunny conditions for Monday into early next week. Guesstimates 2-3 cm by Thursday morning, 35-50 mm of precipitation for Friday and Saturday. This amount will likely change slightly as we get closer.


    Satellite image from yesterday at 14:00 HOURS.

   The big picture certainly shows moisture heading our way.

    Dry today but we will see the clouds increase as the day progresses.

    There is a lot gong on in this image.

    Moist warm flow for Friday.



ARTICLES:

Two Germans die in Tyrol Avalanche: St Anton, Austria

Four survive Valtellina Avalanche: Italy

Should Ski Resorts pay for avalanche injuries: Texas News

Avi Savvy-Avalanche survivor takes safety course at Turner Mountain: Montana

Three mountaineers missing in Northern Japan, an avalanche is suspected: Hakuba, Japan




    Another awesome day in the mountains Tuesday morning.

   January 19, 2015; N aspect Backside of Flute, Explanation below.                        Lee Harrison Photo

Good Morning Wayne,

I hope you are well on your way to recovery.  Just wanted to send you a quick message/info on the back of flute slide.  I triggered it on Monday Morning around 1030 AM.  There had only been 3-4 previous ski lines before our group, mostly the skiers left of the feature.

A member of our group skied the feature with no result.  Once he was clear, I entered and ski cut the top of the convexity with no result.  I continued in and it broke loose on my second turn.  I was able to ski out to the skiers left without incident.

Crown was 20-30cm deep in the storm recent storm layers.  You seem to have already received all other relevant details.

Take care of your self and keep the blog up!

Cheers!

JN




Hi Wayne,
Here is a few pictures of an avalanche from Tuesday, January 20 on Oboe face. Snb triggered Size 1, elev. 1900 m, NW aspect,wind slab, crown approx 20cm deep.I was luckily riding faster then the avalanche,no injury. Thank you Lukas Machan

                                                                                                                                 Lucas Machan Image

                                                                                                                                 Lucas Machan Image

                                                                                                                                  Lucas Machan Image

Another Sa (snowboarder accidental) on Horstman Peak yesterday. Photographer and subject hiked in. Remember if you are above an area where people are below your cutting out an avalanche is always a possibility.

    Sa size 2 on Horstman Peak, hope to get a fx line profile today.                     Tanaku Yusaka Photo

                                                                                                                              Tanaka Yusaku Photo



        Recent profile fromTim Haggerty. Thanks!!

   Golf course may be getting worried about the warm temperatures.

    Wedge Mountain in the blue yesterday.


Thanks to Whistler Heli-skiing for these images from Yesterday in the Spearhead.









 Jan 20 Na? Sr Spearhucker, just left of centre
We also had a SR 5 m in the same location, size 2 after about 30 skiers through the zone. 45cm deep FC on crust.



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