January 21, 2016

    Series of three photos and observations from Steve Whittall, taken yesterday.

Just witnessed some surprising results on the 160104 surface hoar layer on Cloudburst Mountain today. 3 x Sz2 Hr occurring at 1300 today, January 20, 2016. Tracks were visible in the bed surface suggesting the Jan 04 layer (based on our skiing history).

Aspect: North
Elevation: 5200ft
Avg crown: 1m depth
Avg width: 40m
Slope: 20-40 degrees. Avg slope 35 degrees

On our fifth ski run of the day, after observing no significant natural avalanche activity throughout the Cypress, Tricouni, Mt Cayley flying area.

                                                                                                                                Steve Whittall Photo

                                                                                                                               Steve Whittall Photo
Of note, the avalanches propagated into 20 degree terrain, with cracks radiating 20 metres further into even flatter terrain. Within the exact same half hour time window, a N-facing ridge, 5800', in the adjacent Seagrams Lake area ran naturally (several x 1-1.5Na), noted on our next lift.

    Another shot from yesterday near Seagrams Lake.                                    Jordan Crockett Photo

    Early Wednesday morning, January 20, 2016.

    Sun came out in the morning but for the most part it was overcast.

    There was some good visibility in the morning.

    Even some Blue Sky.

    Whistler Mountain yesterday morning.

    By the afternoon it was overcast. Looking Southwest.

    Looking Northwest, around 16:00 Hours.


Weather Observations for January 21, 2016: taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters    -3, Winds were 50-75 KPH SSE   --Horstman Hut Station
2180 meters    -4, Winds were 45-60 KPH SSE   --Whistler Peak
1860 meters    -2, Winds were 20-40 KPH ESE   --Rendevous
1835 meters    -1, Winds were 20-45 KPH ESE   --Roundhouse
1650 meters     0, 11 cm of new snow, 11 cm in 24 hrs, 208 cm Base, RH 100%  --Pig Alley
1550 meters    -2, 10 cm of new snow, 10 cm in 24 hrs, 164 cm Base        --Catskinner 

  660 meters     0, Valley Temp, Max Temp Yesterday was +1.3. 0 mm of Precip recorded

    As of 07:00 Hours this am we have obscured skies, limited visibility and it is snowing +3 cm/hr.


For the forecast, the warm front over us this morning will continue with strong winds and heavy precipitation in a Southerly Flow. Triple W Day, WET, WARM, & WINDY!! The freezing level is still expected to reach 2200 meters, we may get lucky and 1800 meters would be very acceptable.  A cold front is still forecasted to arrive early Friday with the freezing level beginning around 1800 meters descending back to around 1000 meters by the evening. A weak upper trough will move through on Saturday for unsettled weather. A weak upper ridge is scheduled to push into the area for Sunday. Guesstimates: 30-40 cm for Friday morning above 1700 meters,  if the storm stays on track we could get 40-50 cm. 10-15 cm for Saturday morning.

    Image from this morning, warm front for today.

    That is a sweet looking front, we might get lucky with the FL as well.

    Warm front with heavy precipitation.

    Very early Thursday Morning.

    Cold front with light precipitation for Friday.



ARTICLES:

Avalanche Risk "Extreme" on BC South Coast: CBC News

Skier Killed in Montana Avalanche: Cedar Basin, Montana

Cedar Basin Avalanche Fatality-Jan 19, 2016: GNFAC Investigation

Pro Skier JT Holmes survives avalanche burial: TetonGravity

An update on Patroller buried in an avalanche on Powder Mountain: GrindTV

Avalanche Resuscitation Guideline: Winter CPR

France to probe risks taken by soldiers in deadly avalanche: Madone, France

Controlled avalanche kicks off "Jasper in January": Alberta

    Unsettled in the morning, we even had some sunny periods.

    Overcast by the afternoon as the pre frontal cloud moved onto the coast.

    Low sucking moisture from Maui. It was raining there and 23 Deg yesterday.

    Avalanche practise in Patroller's Trees.

               Very snowy in the valley.

    Tower 3 on the Blackcomb Side is the tallest of the 4.

    A different perspective of the Peak to Peak.

    Tower 4 on the Blackcomb Side.

    Still some good turns to be had on Lower Disease Ridge, yesterday afternoon.