February 2, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      An avalanche has killed two skiers on Afarat Peak, Kashmir. Article below.  

      No avalanche control on Blackcomb Wednesday am, Some soft slabs, Sz 0.5 Sa.

     No  avalanche control on Whistler.  Some Sz 1 Na & Sc windslabs. 

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise was at 07:46 Hrs Wednesday. -6 Deg C with a 15-35 KPH South wind at 1835 m.

      10:00 Hrs -5 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

     Wednesday February 1, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

     14:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

     16:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

Weather Observations for February 2, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -7, Winds were 45-60 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -8, Winds were 45-50 KPH ESE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -4, Winds were 20-35 KPH S--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -4, Winds were 15-30 KPH ESE--Round House

1650 meters     -4, trace in 12 Hrs, 1 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 185 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -6, trace in 12 Hrs, 1 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 121 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -4, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +1, 3.3 mm of precip yesterday. 

       As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have a trace of new snow, 1 in 24 Hrs. Base 185 cm.

      As of 07:00 Hrs we have a broken cloud, with unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

A weakening dirty upper ridge will bring an overcast day in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The FL is below surface and should warm up slightly to around 1000 m.Some sunny breaks this am. Next front arrives around midnight with light precipitation, dries out briefly early Friday am , with the next impulse arriving around 08:00 Hrs. Windy with light/moderate precipitation through the day. Front continues into Saturday with precipitation rates easing to light by early Saturday am. Stronger impulse of precipitation arrives Saturday evening into Sunday am. Periods of light precipitation for Sunday, dries out for most of the daylight hours with mostly overcast skies and some flurries. Stronger impulse arrives for Monday with light/moderate precipitation and strong winds. Will likely see a break Tuesday am, before another impulse of light/moderate precipitation for Tuesday. A carousel of frontal bands!! Guesstimates: 1-2 cm by Friday am, 22-26 cm by Saturday am, 14-18 cm by Sunday am,  2-6 cm by Monday am, 30-40 cm by Tuesday am, 20-30 cm by Wednesday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/02/02. 05:00 Hrs. Very active zonal flow.

     Winter is coming.

       Weakening upper ridge will allow cloud to spill in, mostly overcast. Slightly warmer.

      Dry today with the chance of some intermittent scattered flurries. Overcast.

      Southwesterly flow aloft.

       A vigorous frontal band arrives early Friday morning. Wet and windy. Above average temps.

      Low will bring a moist day Friday. Light/moderate precipitation.

      Low will send frontal bans our way Saturday. Southerly flow. Above average temperatures.

      Light/moderate precipitation Saturday.

       Weak upper trough will bring precip early Sunday am, dries out pm, impulse Sunday night.

      Periods of light precipitation Sunday. Overcast in the pm. Snow moon will be producing.

     More snow Monday.

      More precipitation for Monday.

      Unsettled Tuesday with a mix of some sunny breaks in the am, periods of snow.

     Fronts keep coming into mid week.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      09:30 Hrs. Snowing lightly. 

      This image from same timeline as above.

      Snow line down to the valley.

      Formed by the North Winds.

      Heading up to the East Col.

     Watch for old cornice and avalanche debris.

      No fun walking back up for your gear.

      Pockets of wind transported  snow in the rocks.

     Cloudy but dry in the pm.

     16:15 hrs. Interesting middle layer. Reverse Oreo.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA: 

Travel and Terrain Advice

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

Although their spatial distribution is isolated, wind slabs are reactive.

Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.

MODERATE--Sea to Sky Advisory available top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Circle Lake-Blackcomb: Feb 1, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Big Air: Deep Slab

Ouch: No Injuries

Avalanche Surfing: Very Lucky

Too Steep for an unload: Snowmobile Fails

Stiff Slabs: AvyBites

ARTICLES: 

Kashmir Avalanche kills 2 polish skiers, 21 people rescued: Northern India

Two killed, four rescued after Gulmarg avalanche: Kashmir

A Powder day can be Deadly--Even in Bounds! Here's how to stay safe: Outside

Utah skier shares story of surviving an avalanche: Flagstaff

As backcountry skiing grows more popular, accidents grow more common: Tokyo

      If you enjoy the content and find it useful, please hit the donate button, top right on side bar.

Send me recent avalanche images. E-Mail top right of the side bar. Read Below:

Goggle contest returning again this year, win a pair of Marker goggles for the best avalanche image for the months of November-January, February-March,April-May.  Grand prize best image of the  season will be a Pair of Prior Skis or a Split Board awarded at the end of May.