January 22, 2023

          AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

          An avalanche on Kornock Ski Area AT, has killed a man. Article Below.  RMR Image

      Sz 2 Sa in Aspen Area, CO. 2023/01/20. Click> CAIC Report                    Sammy Podhurst Image

       Update on 2 climbers missing, avalanche may have buried them in a crevasse. Article below.

      Sa Sz 2 NW face Mt Pattison. 2023/01/20. Click> MIN Report.                 Backcountryfruits Pic

      Minimal AC Sunday am on Whistler. Cornice trimming. Xc Sz 2. Sc Sz 1 pockets of storm slab.

     Minimal control work, on Blackcomb. Xc Bushrat. Keeping the entrances trimmed. Xc Sz 1 Sc Sz 1.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Saturday was at 08:00 Hrs. -3 Deg c with a 15-40 KPH South wind at 1835 m.

      10:00 Hrs Saturday. -4 Deg c with a 25-40 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

      Saturday January 21, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -5Deg C with a 15-35 KPH SE wind at 1835 m. S-1

      This image from the same time frame as above image.

     14:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SSW wind at 1860 m.

     16:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH SSW breeze at 1860 m.

Weather Observations for January 22, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -9, Winds were 15-20 KPH ENE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -8, Winds were 15-25 KPH ENE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -8, Winds were   5-10 KPH ENE--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -7, Winds were   0-10 KPH NE--Round House

1650 meters     -6, trace in 12 Hrs,  9 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 195 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -6, 1 cm in 12 Hrs,   7 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 134 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -2, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +0.6, 6.1 mm of precip yesterday.

 

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am, we have a trace of new snow. 0.2 mm in the precip gauge. Base  195 cm.

      As of 07:00 Hrs we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

Dirty ridging with unsettled weather for today in a Northerly flow aloft. The FL is below surface and could go as high as 1000 m today. Some morning sunny breaks with increasing cloud as the day progresses. Weak impulse early Tuesday am, with mostly overcast skies and slightly warmer temperatures. Unsettled weather Wednesday, ridge strengthens pushing inland with inverted temperatures . Mostly sunny. Pacific frontal band for Thursday with periods of light precipitation. Some models are not calling for this frontal band, time will tell! more on that as we get closer.  Unsettled Friday with a mix of sun and cloud, showers later in the day. Unsettled and much colder for Saturday. Guesstimates: trace-2 cm by Monday am, trace-2 cm by Tuesday am, 0 cm by Wednesday am, trace-2 cm by Thursday am, 8-12 cm by Friday am, trace-2 cm by Saturday am, 0 cm by Sunday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI Image, 2023/01/22. 05:00 Hrs.

      Dirty ridging for Sunday with unsettled weather in the am, overcast in the pm. Cool temps.

      Not much moisture, possible snow flurries Sunday. 

      Northerly flow aloft.

      High tries to push in, low sends a bit of moisture. Unsettled and a bit warmer.

      Early morning snow showers. Unsettled with mostly overcast skies. Likely pm sunny breaks.

            High keeps pushing in, early am impulse from low Tuesday. Above seasonable temperatures.

      Weak am impulse, mostly overcast Tuesday.

            High pressure strengthens, mostly sunny with some cloud. Above average temperatures. 

      High pushes inland, dry unsettled weather Wednesday. Inverted temperatures.

      High may flatten Thursday, low may send moisture our way Thursday. Perhaps this may be right!

       Unsettled weather Friday. Mix of sun and cloud lingering cloud and moisture from Thursday.

       INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

     Before the cold front arrived Saturday, some nice early am light. 07:30 Hrs.

      Started snowing in the valley around 08:30 Hrs.

      It was snowing 2 cm/hr for a while in the am.

      Snowing and blowing at the Roundhouse Saturday am. 20-45 KPH in the am at 1835 m.

      On an adventure!!

      11:00 Hrs. All lifts, all zones!!

      Border Cross course on Blackcomb Saturday.

      Great turns to the valley.

      Clouds thinned, flurries at 15:00 Hrs.

      Whiplash!

     16:00 Hrs descending into the lifting mid mountain cloud!

      Sad Sign!

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA: 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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

MODERATE--Sea to Sky Advisory top right of side bar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Vantage Trees: Jan 21, 2023

Seymour: Jan 21, 2023

Oboe Creek/Flute Cruiser: Jan 20, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Backcountry Conditions Report: MSAA

What not to do: Sledding

Nailing: Air Jordan

Aggressive Moose: Alaska Sledding Hazards

Nice Air: Nice Snow

ARTICLES: 

22 year old dies in an avalanche off piste on Kornock Ski Area: Austria (may need google translator)

Second officer dies after avalanche near Kaslo on Jan 9, 2023: Nelson, B.C.

Mountaineers missing after avalanche swept them into a crevasse: Patagonia 

Ice climbers and mountain adventurers fear climate change creates new unpredictable risks: CBC News

Stable snowpack, low avalanche danger creates great Backcountry Skiing: Utah

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