December 16, 2022

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

     Avalanche techs caught in remotely triggered slab in Montana, No burial. Click>GNFAC Report

   Solo skier injured and buried, discovered by off duty medic. UT  Article below. Click>UAC Report

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler Thursday.

      No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb Thursday. Alpin Glow.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Thursday was at 08:04 Hrs. 

     Mostly cloudy Thursday am. 11:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 25-35 KPH North Wind. Sastrugi

      Thursday December 15, 2022. 12:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 0-10 KPH WNW breeze.

     15:30 Hrs. Nice light with some scattered high cloud. -2 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH NW wind.

      Sunset was at 16:10 Hrs Thursday. -4 Deg C with a 45-60 KPH North wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for December 16, 2022 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters    -2, Winds were 25-35 KPH N--Horstman Hut

2180 meters    -1, Winds were 15-25 KPH N-Whistler Peak

1860 meters   +1, Winds were   5-10 KPH NNE-Rendezvous  

1835 meters   +1, Winds were   5-10 KPH W--Round House

1650 meters    -2, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 110 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     0, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base   59 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters    -8, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +1, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday. 

      As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

Ridge will bring sunny skies for today in a Northerly flow aloft. An inversion with the freezing level rising as high as 2000+ m. Presently +1 at 1860 m. A weak shortwave trough will move into the area tomorrow with overcast skies and some very light snow reaching our zone Saturday night/ early Sunday am. Overcast skies and light snow fall for Sunday. Cold dry weather for Monday with a mix of sun and cloud. A weak frontal band for Tuesday with periods of light snow. A more active front is forecasted for Wednesday, with a series of frontal bands continuing into the weekend. Guesstimates: 0 cm by Saturday am, 1-4 cm by Sunday am, 2-4 cm by Monday am, 0 cm by Tuesday am. 

      GOES IR Image from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI Image 2022/12/16. 05:00 Hrs.

   High between two lows, Arctic Low pushing onto coast. Warmer temperatures today. FL 2000m?

      Some lingering cloud, sunny breaks today. Dry.

      Northerly flow aloft.

             Arctic front pushes into South Coast. Light snow, colder temperatures.

     Overcast with some flurries late Saturday night.

             Low will bring periods of light snow, cold temperatures. 

      Periods of light snow on Sunday.

       Dry unsettled weather with cold temperatures. -20

      Mix of sun and cloud for Monday. Very cold!

      There are a lot of discrepancies in the NAM, GFS, ECMWF, GEM. Lets hope we get more snow soon!!

      Models are conflicted about next week, time will tell. Always easier 24-48 hrs out. Fingers crossed.

      ECMWF does have snow coming, from next Wednesday-Sunday 80-100 cm. Time will tell!!!

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Red Chair opens 2022/12/16 at 11:00 Hrs.

      Skier compaction.

      Nice light at 15:30 Hrs.

             Which way to the North Pole??                                                                   Lynda Budd Image

      Nice colours at days end.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.

Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Sea to Sky Advisory available on the side bar, top right.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

North Pow still Good: Dec 15, 2022

SHORT CLIPS:

Avalanche Techs remotely trigger slab: Fisher Peak, MT

Drop to splat: 210 Feet

Insane line up: No Way

Using artillery: Dusted

Pow Day: Rowdy Crowd

ARTICLES:

Video--AST 1 Group witness Sz 2- 2.5 Avalanche on Blackcomb Mountain 2022/12/10: Pique 

Snowboarder dies in deep snow immersion incident at Mount Baker, 2022/12/12: Washington State

Surviving an avalanche--A story of faith: Cat Skiing

Off-duty medic comes across an injured partially buried skier: Utah

I-70 reopens after avalanche mitigation: Colorado

Climate change will impact mountains on a global scale: SciTechDaily

Strong winter season jet stream to extend into the next season as La Nina Exits: Spring 2023 Forecast

New Scottish Avalanche Hazard forecast season begins: SAIS

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