December 22, 2022

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      Two ski tourers lucky after releasing large avalanche near Coon Hill, CO. Article below. SGRG Pic

     Remotely triggered slab, La Plata Mtns, CO. 2022/12/20. Click> CAIC Report. Chris Bilbrey Pic

      Sr (skier remote) near Star Peak, CO. 2022/12/19. Click> CAIC Report.  Maria Wimmer Pic

     Na cornice collapse to slab.  Beehive Basin, MT. 2022/12/20. Click>GNFAC Report

      No new avalanche activity observed on Whistler Wednesday.

      Weekend Chutes West Bowl.

      No new avalanche activity observed on Blackcomb Wednesday.

      Blackcomb Peak, Disease Ridge, Decker.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Winter Solstice< explanation. Sunrise was at 08:08 Hrs. -24 Deg C with a 35-45 KPH NNE wind.

     10:00 Hrs. -24 Deg C with a  5-15 KPH East wind at 1835 m.

      Wednesday Dec 21, 2022. 12:00 Hrs. -22 Deg C with a 10-30 KPH North wind.

     15:00 Hrs. -22 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH NNE wind at 1860 m.

     Sunset was at 16:12 Hrs. -21 Deg C with a 20-30 KPH NE wind at 2280 m.

      Wednesday evening.

Weather Observations for December 22, 2022 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -18, Winds were 10-15 KPH E--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -17, Winds were 10-25 KPH ESE-Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -19, Winds were   5-10 KPH ESE-Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -22, Winds were   5-10 KPH NNE--Round House

1650 meters     -21, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 112 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -21, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base  60 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -18, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday No Data, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday. 

      As of 06:00 Hrs we have no new snow.

      As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have some broken cloud in the distance and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

Broken cloud this am in a cold Northerly flow will see increasing cloud coverage into tonight.Temperatures will moderate by tonight.  Snow will likely begin to fall late evening and intensify by early Friday am. Periods of light snow down to the valley will continue into Saturday am(FL 0-1000m).  A more intense front arrives Saturday morning with strong winds, moderate to heavy precipitation and rising freezing levels.(1200-1800m) By Saturday night  (FL2000m) the front pushes through with overcast skies and furries in its wake. Mostly overcast Sunday with some flurries and warm temperatures.(2000-1500m).  Another front arrives late Sunday afternoon with periods of light precipitation becoming moderate early Monday am.(FL 1400-1100m)  A series of frontal bands are forecasted for next week. More on precipitation rates and freezing levels in tomorrows post. Expect a few changes. Guesstimates: 5-10 cm by Friday am, 15-20 cm by Saturday am above 800 m, 45-60 cm above by Sunday am above 1800 m, 20-25 cm by Monday am above 1000m, 40-50 cm by Tuesday am above 800m. 

      GOES IR Image from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI Image. 2022/12/22. 05:00 Hrs.

          Low will slowly push the High away today, still cold.

      Pre frontal clouds moving down the coast Thursday. Overcast and dry for most of the day.

      Northerly flow aloft.

      Low will send a Pacific Front our way Friday with periods of light snow. Rising FL.

      Low sends some welcome snow down the coast Friday.

       Massive low will send a vigorous frontal band our way Saturday. Warming.

       Low will be sending moisture from the Southwest. Light/heavy precipitation. Strong winds.

      Deepening low and weak upper level trough will bring mostly overcast skies Christmas Day.

      Most of the precipitation stays off the coast Sunday, heading South.

      Another frontal band Monday with light precipitation.

     INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Awesome start to the shortest day of the year. 08:15 Hrs. -22 Deg C with a 25-40 KPH NNE wind.

     Cold day for a medievac.

      Spindrift on Whistler Peak. At 13:30 Hrs -25  Deg C with a 35-45 KPH North wind at 2180 m.

      14:00 Hrs. Clouds moving in from the South. Angel Dust in the foreground.

   The Creekside Gondola was turning Wednesday, cars are unwrapped. Opening Dec 23, 2022. 08:15.

      Thats how it has felt over the past few days. Very Cold.

      Days end, spindrift off Tricouni Peak Wednesday evening.

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 Advisory available in the side bar top right.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Sky Pilot Zone: Dec 21, 2022

Habrich Zone: Dec 21, 2022

SHORT CLIPS:

Steep Trees: Snowboarding

Snow Immersion Suffocation a possibility: Snowmobiling 

110%: Skimo

Snow Surfing: Ghost Riding

ARTICLES:

Pair of "Lucky" skiers uninjured after triggering large slide near Coon Hill: Colorado

Avalanche Transceiver interference from electronic devices:Mountain Sledder

Avalanche Transceiver Test 2022: DAV

Recounting being swept away in a Whistler Backcountry avalanche: Pique

Some consider Backcountry Skiing risky in Sub Zero Temperatures: Montana SAR

Winter Storm Watch: Sea to Sky Corridor

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Goggle contest returning again this year, win a pair of Marker goggles for the best avalanche image for the month of January, will post an image soon. Images accepted for the rest of December. Grand prize this year will be a Pair of Prior Skis or a Split Board awarded at the end of May.