17 Dec 2022

December 17, 2022

           AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

           Old wet loose below Mount Fee.


      Gasex Results in Tignes, France. Click>@ Avalancheshepards

      No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb. Some Xl test rounds in Lakeside.


     Old fracture lines on Chainsaw Ridge.


      No new avalanches observed on Whistler.


      Very old fracture line below bomb tram.


      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Friday was at 08:05 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 20-30 KPH North wind at 2280 m.


     09:30 Hrs, sun is very low. 0 Deg C with a 15-20 KPH North wind at 2280 m.


      Friday December 16, 2022. 12:00 Hrs. +3 Deg C with a 10-20 West wind at 1835 m.

      High pressure still dominant feature Friday afternoon.

      Ridge will flatten Saturday, Arctic Front slowly creeping into Southern BC. Much speculation!!


      Sunset was at 16:10 Hrs. +0.5 Deg C with a 15-20 KPH SW wind, FL dropping slowly!! Hi +1.7


Weather Observations for December 17, 2022 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -6, Winds were 30-45 KPH SSW--Horstman Hut
2180 meters     -5, Winds were 35-50 KPH W-Whistler Peak
1860 meters     -4, Winds were 20-30 KPH SE-Rendezvous  
1835 meters     -2, Winds were 15-35 KPH SW--Round House
1650 meters     -9, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 109 cm--Pig Alley
1570 meters     -9, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base   57 cm--Catskinner
  660 meters     -3, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +1.8, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday. 




      As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have high scattered cloud, valley cloud anf unlimited visibility.




FORECAST:

Overcast skies with the upper level ridge flattening and the cold low moving in from the interior. Northerly flow aloft will transition to Northeasterly.  Some glimpsing moments with the sun before overcast skies, seasonable temperatures move into the South Coast. Very light snow fall expected to arrive late tonight into Early Sunday morning, with strong outflow winds.  Periods of light snow into Sunday morning, before drying out. Cold and cloudy Sunday afternoon into early Monday morning. Sunny Monday.  Models diverge here with several different outcomes, Some models calling for dry weather into Tuesday with cold sunny arctic air. Ground hog day for Wednesday, with a  weak front arriving on Thursday/Friday and into the weekend. Time will tell, hope the Canadian model is right. Several model differences so confidence is low. Better intel as we get closer. Guesstimates:1-3 cm by Sunday am, 2-4 cm by Monday am, 0 cm by Tuesday am, 0 cm by Wednesday am.




      GOES IR Image from this am.

 

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


       Upper level trough and associated cold front push through tonight with light snow. Cooling.



       Overcast Saturday, some snow arrives late Saturday night.


      Northerly flow aloft.

         Some cloud in the Arctic front with periods of light snow, colder.



      Sunday will bring periods of light snow.

         Sunny and cold Monday.



       Arctic front will bring sunny skies and cold temperatures.

       Arctic High will bring sunny skies, cold temperatures for Tuesday.


       Arctic front still keeping moisture from Whistler, sunny and cold.


      Arctic front continues to dominate over Whistler. Yes cold and sunny.


     GEM not showing the low moving down the coast compared to the GFS Below. 2022/12/20.


      GFS showing a welcome low moving down the coast Tuesday. Significant difference in the model run.


      If the European Model stays on track, Powder to the People, Pre Christmas POW Sessions.

         GFS on board for some snow Friday. Large cold high for Western and Central North America.



      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Seventh Heaven, early Friday am.


      Mount Fee<Click for Description. Popular Sledding Area, in the past an amazing place to Heli-Ski.


      Tracks in lower bowls of Fee Area.

      Melt Freeze <click for explanation. This image below tree line SE aspect.

      Red Chair opened Friday.

      More capacity!!


      Hopefully the Creekside Gondola opens before Christmas!!


      We need snow, hopefully the forecast comes through for Thursday-Monday! 


     Hiking out of the ski area boundary with no gear!!! 


     Looking pretty thrashed!!


     Mt Weart <click for Description.


      Recent snow profile. 





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. 

Sea to Sky Avalanche Advisory Top Right Sidebar




LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

NSR Snowpack Summary: Dec 16, 2022





SHORT CLIPS:

North Shore Mountains Avalanche Conditions: Dec 16, 2022

Recent Test Pit. ?aspect ,elevation, Snow drift.:  Whistler

Kite-skiing: Fast Uphill

Big Stomp: Snowboarding

PST Test, Scary: Colorado

Deep Snow: Snorkel Skiing



ARTICLES:


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

The Deep Persistent Slab is the apex predator of avalanches: Grant Statham

Using Intuition in the Backcountry--Moving on from the money ball mindset:  Avalanche Geeks

Enormous Avalanche, Teaches Enormous Lesson: Adventure Journal

In a changing climate, Alaska faces risk of extreme precipitation: Alaska Beacon

Firefighter shares experience of rescuing skier buried by avalanche: Salt Lake City

Skier injured in avalanche describes hours-long rescue effort: Salt Lake City

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