December 18, 2022

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      An avalanche on the Col de Plans, FR has killed a skier.  Article below.                 Net Pic

      Several avalanches with rescues performed, 2 seriously injured in Italy. Article below. Net Pic

            Three ski mountaineers partially buried in Auronzo Gully, Italy. Article below. Net Pic

      Still sketchy in Colorado. Click> CAIC Report.                                                    CAIC Image

      Sketchy in Utah as well, Fx Line- snowmobile remote 2022/12/16. Click>UAC Report

      Another snowmobile remote in Utah. Click> UAC Report.                           Taylor Jones Image

      East Aspect Tricouni Na 2022/12/16. Glide Crack Avalanche.                 Andrew McAloon Image

      Older, but debris is likely still there. Ledge Basin, Squamish.                      Grant Gill Image

      Found this today in Instagram feed, rookie! From Ledge Basin ? 2022/12/11. Grant Gill Image

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler Saturday.

      No new avalanche activity observed on Blackcomb.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Saturday was at 08:06 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 40-50 KPH South wind at 2280 m.

      Interesting images Saturday am, so many possibilities.

     10:30 Hrs, Jersey Cream Chair. -7 Deg C with a 10-25 KPH  SE wind at 1860 m.   Big Al Photo

      Saturday December 17, 2022. 12:00 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH West Breeze.

     14:00 Hrs, variable visibility depending on altitude.

      Sunset was at 16:10 Hrs. -13 Deg C with a 30-40 KPH SSW wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for December 18, 2022 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -16, Winds were 35-50 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -14, Winds were 30-40 KPH SSW--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -17, Winds were   5-10 KPH SW--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -19, Winds were 10-20 KPH N--Round House

1650 meters     -18, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 3 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 109 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -17, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 3 cm in 24 Hrs. Base   58 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -11, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was -1.3, trace of precip yesterday. 

Wind chill at 2280 m -29 with a 40 KPH wind and -16.

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 2 cm of new snow, 0.7 mm in precip gauge, base 109 cm.

       As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have obscured skies, variable visibility and snowing lightly.

FORECAST:

The arctic frontal boundary will bring periods of light snowfall in a NorthWesterly flow aloft. Temperatures will continue to drop as the Arctic outflow moves onto the coast.  Chance the frontal boundary may exit quickly with some breaks possible this pm.  The dry cold Arctic airmass will bring sunny skies for Monday. This trend will continue into Tuesday with very cold temps. A weak shortwave trough brushes the zone with an increase in cloud cover, still some sun expected Tuesday pm. Sunny and cold Wednesday with more cloud pushing in Wednesday pm. Front pushes in Thursday with overcast skies. Should see some snow arrive on Friday with winter weather expected over the weekend. A white Christmas indeed! POWDER TO THE PEOPLE. A much anticipated Pacific storm will bring light-heavy snowfall over the weekend into Early next week. Guesstimates: 2-4 cm by Monday am, 0 cm by Tuesday am, 0-1cm by Wednesday am, 0 cm by Thursday am.

      GOES IR Image from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI Image. 2022/12/18. 05:00 Hrs.

      Arctic front continues to push west, cold with some light snow on Sunday.

      Frontal boundary will bring periods of light snow Sunday.

      Northwesterly-Westerly flow aloft.

      Arctic high well established, clear and cold for Monday.

      Clear and cold for Monday.

       Clear cold weather for Tuesday.

      On the edge, but still thinking cold and clear weather Tuesday.

      Change on Wednesday with cool dry weather in the am, overcast with cloud in the pm.

      Mostly sunny Wednesday with some cloud moving in by the pm.

       Front arrives on Thursday, overcast and dry with moisture arriving Friday.

       Some agreement in the snow fall forecasted for next Friday. Fingers crossed!

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Valley cloud lifting early Saturday am.

      Saturday, 09:00 Hrs.Big Picture.  Hopefully the moisture does arrive next Thursday/Friday?

      Snowmaking on Saturday!

      Some parts of the valley have better coverage than the alpine!

      Lots of terrain open! Snowing lightly. 2 cm recorded at 1570 m from 06:00-14:00 Hrs SAT.

      Some breaks later in the pm.

     A meager  base of 58 cm at 1570 meters.  Last year on this date we had a base of 111 cm!

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA: 

Travel and Terrain Advice

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

Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.

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

The Sea to Sky Avalanche Advisory is available in the top right side bar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Sky Pilot Glacier: Dec 17, 2022

Left Over Pow: Dec 17, 2022

SHORT CLIPS:

Ridge Line Cruising: Snow Biking

From this summer, Sa: New Zealand

Deep Pow 2022/12/15: Snowbird

Large Slab Avalanche: Alaska

ARTICLES:

PWL at 2000 m in Austria: Tyrol

Series of avalanches across the French Alps, one dead: Pistehors.com

Several avalanche rescues in Europe, 2 seriously injured: Northern Italy

Three ski tourers partially buried in Auronzo Gully: Italy

An avalanche injured a skier on Rendezvous Peak, helicopter rescue initiated: Wyoming

Avalanche victim hoisted by SARU on Dec 2, 2022. Injured snow biker: Washington State

Persistent--Deep Persistent--Why the switch: Avalanche Canada

Rogers Pass Operation PALACI: Powder Canada

Arctic Outflow warning: Whistler

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