January 18, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      Avalanche derails train in Alaska. Article below.                                      Judy McKinley Image

      Detailed report on the Pumphouse Lake avalanche fatalities. Click>CAIC Report. CAIC Pic

      Lost skier found dead in an avalanche. Austria. Article Below.                       Rescue Services Pic

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler. hard to see!

      Back Bowl and Gun Barrels.

     No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb Tuesday.

      Xc Chainsaw 2023/01/17, in the am. Pic in the pm. Cornice chunks, no slab release. 

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Tuesday was at 08:04 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 20-30 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

      10:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

      Tuesday January 17, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 10-35 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

     Snowing lightly at 1860 m. 14:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH S wind at 1860 m.

     16:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

Weather Observations for January 18, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -6, Winds were 100-160 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -6, Winds were     55-70 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -4, Winds were     30-60 KPH S--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -4, Winds were     30-60 KPH ESE--Round House

1650 meters     -2, 8 cm in 12 Hrs, 9 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 195 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -3, 4 cm in 12 Hrs, 5 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 132 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.0, 0.9 mm of precip yesterday. 

Brunt of the precipitation yesterday went South, 6.0 mm in Squamish compared to 0.9 mm in Whistler.

      Looks like  8 cm, 5.2 mm in the precip gauge. Base 195 cm.

       As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have obscured skies, limited visibility and snowing 2 cm/hr.

FORECAST:

A vigorous cold front will dissipate by this afternoon in a South Westerly flow aloft. Light snow above 1000 m today with the FL dropping to surface this pm, with flurries to the valley later this am. Dirty ridging tonight into Thursday with overcast skies and cooler temperatures. Sunny breaks in the mix. Weak ridging continues into Friday with mostly overcast weather and some breaks. Short wave trough arrives Friday night with light-moderate snow easing to flurries later in the am, dries out for the pm with overcast skies. Another gray day Sunday with the possibility of some sunny breaks. Another short wave trough for Sunday night into Monday am. Dry unsettled weather for early next week. Guesstimates: 8-12 cm by Thursday am, 0-trace by Friday am, 2-6 cm by Saturday am, 8-12 cm by Sunday am, 0 cm by Monday am, 2-6 cm by Tuesday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI IMAGE 2023/01/18. 05:00 Hrs.

      A weakening front will dissipate by this afternoon with a dirty ridge building Wednesday pm.

      Periods of light precipitation this am. Dries out Wednesday pm.

          South Westerly-Westerly flow aloft.

               Dirty ridging Thursday with overcast weather and cooler temperatures.

       Dirty ridging Thursday with a trough just to our North.

          Unsettled with overcast skies Friday, System arrives late Friday pm. Warmish.

       Low sending frontal bands North, overcast Friday. Trough arrives late in the pm.

      Short wave trough for Saturday with drying trend after impulse. Cooler.

       Light precipitation Saturday with drier weather in the pm.

      Dirty ridging Sunday.

      Weak short wave trough Monday.

       INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Snow line was around 900 m Tuesday am.

      Whistler still performing avalanche mitigation.

      A bit every day is always good!! 17 cm in 48 Hrs at 1650 m.

      Icicle Factory

      Amazing what wind and melt freeze will do!

     Always amazed at the tensile strength in snow!!

      49 cm has fallen at 1650 m in the past 7 days.

       Rendezvous Snacks.

      Thick low level cloud above valley on Tuesday.

     Some breaks in the front 16:00 Hrs.

     Tuesday 2023/01/17 21:00 Hrs. Snow less than 1 cm per hour at 1650 m.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.

Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.

Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.

Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.

HIGH HAZARD--Sea to Sky Advisory available top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

S2S Gondola/Stadium Gully: Jan 17, 2023

Lazyboy Snow Pits: Jan 17, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Slow motion Serac Collapse: Manaslu

Cool Ski Trick: Austria

Next level in the steep trees: Sledding Skills

Apres in Europe: Valthorens

Top 10 Avalanches: World Wide

ARTICLES:

Missing skier found dead in an avalanche: Austria (May need google translate)

 Avalanche derails train South of Girdwood: Alaska

B.C. avalanche survivor in ICU on long road to recovery: Nelson

On skiing with dogs: WildSnow

Over 1100 people rescued, relocated from avalanche prone areas: Kashmir

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