February 4, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      An avalanche has killed a skier in the Otztal, AUT. Article Below.                                  Net Pic

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

      No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise was at 07:43 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 5-10 PKH West wind t 1860 m.

     10:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 50-70 KPH South wind at 2280 m. First impulse arriving.

     Friday February 3, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 20-45 KPH SE wind at 1835 m. 

      14:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 20-55 KPH South wind at 1860 m. Snowing 2 cm per hr.

     16:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 25-70 KPH ESE wind at 1860 m.

Weather Observations for February 4, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -5, Winds were 50-65 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -5, Winds were 50-70 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -3, Winds were 20-40 KPH S--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -3, Winds were 15-40 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters     -1, 16 cm in 12 Hrs, 17 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 198 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -3, 12 cm in 12 Hrs, 13 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 132 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     +1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3, 5.1 mm of precip yesterday. 

      As of 06:00 Hrs we have 16 cm of new snow. 12.5 mm in precip gauge. Base 198 cm.

       As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies and variable visibility.

FORECAST:

A weak warm front will bring periods of light precipitation today in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The FL is sitting around 1000 m, may climb to 1400 m during the day and drop back down to 1000 m by tonight.  May see a brief drying trend around noon. A weak cold front pushes through Sunday am, dries out in the pm with overcast skies. A pineapple express arrives for Monday with periods of light/moderate precipitation with slightly above average temperatures with strong winds. Front continues into Tuesday with periods of light precipitation. Unsettled Wednesday with a mix of sun, cloud and some flurries. A weak front arrives Thursday for more snow and cooler temperatures. Front spills into Friday. Guesstimates: 4-8 cm by Sunday am, 1-4 cm by Monday am, 20-30 cm by Tuesday am, 10-15 cm by Wednesday am, 0-2 cm by Thursday am, 20-25 cm by Friday am.

     GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/02/04. 05:00 Hrs.

             Low will bring periods of Light precipitation as a warm front pushes through. Warmish.

      Periods of light precipitation Saturday. Brunt of the moisture has gone North.

      Southwesterly flow aloft.

       Cold front Sunday Morning, dries out in the pm. Cooler but above average temperatures.

     Periods of light precipitation Sunday am.

        Active front for Monday, above average temperatures.

      Periods of light/moderate precipitation Monday.

       Westerly flow with periods of light precipitation. Above average temperatures.

      Light precipitation Tuesday.

      Dries out Wednesday.

      This system may come further South on Thursday with light precipitation.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

       Looking dark down to the South at opening.

      The first weak brief frontal band arrived around 09:30 Hrs.

      Patrol Horstman Hut.

      Nice light between the first frontal impulse and the main event.

      Powder Mountain.

      Snow was blowing around in the am. 70-120 KPH just before noon at 2280 m.

      Good visibility on Whistler at noon.

      Grouped up groups.

      Blackcomb Glacier designated run at 12:30 Hrs.

      13:30 Hrs. snowing 1 cm per hour.

      2023/02/03. 14:30 Hrs. 1 cm of new snow. Base 121 cm. 1570 m.

      16:30 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 20-50 KPH South Wind at 1860 m.

     Snowing 2 cm per hour at 16:45 Hrs at 900 m. A bit wetter.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA: 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 30 cm of new snow.

Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.

Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.

Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Cayoosh, Lazy Boy: Jan 3, 2023

Motel 66: Feb 3, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Avalanche Mitigation: Hwy 37A

North Shore Avalanche Conditions: Feb 3, 2023

MSA BCR Report: Feb 3, 2023 

Large Avalanche: Kashmir

Deep Snow: Horsepower

Steep And: Narrow

ARTICLES:

A man has died in an avalanche in the Otztal Valley: Austria 

One dead and one injured by avalanche: Austria (google translate may be needed)

70 people trapped by masses of snow: Austria

The world's top ski resorts are melting away because of the climate crisis: Snow! What Snow??

Closure planned for Hwy 1 Saturday: Avalanche Control

Another avalanche hits Gulmarg's Afarwat Area: Kashmir

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