March 14, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

       Sz 3 Na (natural) avalanche in Lionhead Range in Montana. 2023/03/10.     GNFAC Image

      MIN Report from March 12, 2023. Co-Pilot. Sz 2 Sa MIN report below.        Adrian.Heieis Pic

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler produced Sz 1-2 cornice & storm slabs. Xe Xc Sc.

      Sz 1-2 Xc, Xe in Flute.

      Sz 1 results on Surprise.

      Avalanche mitigation on Blackcomb produced Sz 1-1.5 storm slabs. Xe, Xl, Xc, Xt, Sc.

       Finishing shots in Blackcomb Bowl before the rope drops.

     Xt (explosive delivered by tram) Sz 1-1.5 in Sapphire Chutes. 15 cm 4F+ on top of 10-15 cm F.

      Some Na Sz 1.5 reported below Phalanx Ridge on Monday.

     

     WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Monday was at 07:31 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 25-45 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

      08:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 10-40 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m. 

      10:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 10-40 KPH ENE wind at 1835 m. S+1

     This image from same time frame as above.

      Monday March 13, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 15-35 KPH SE wind at 1835 m. S-1

      14:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 10-30 KPH SW wind at 18560 m. S+2.

      16:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 10-25 KPH SW wind at 1835m.

      Snowing in the valley at 21:30 Hrs. Recirculation, in a convective pattern.

Weather Observations for March 14, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -12, Winds were 30-40 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -11, Winds were 50-65 KPH SSW--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -10, Winds were 10-25 KPH SE --Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -10, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters       -8, 10 cm in 12 Hrs, 14 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 250 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters       -8,   5 cm in 12 Hrs,   9 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 173 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters       -2, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.1, 9.5 mm of precip yesterday.

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 10 cm of new snow, 4.4 mm in precip gauge. Base  250 cm.

      As of 07:00 hrs we have overcast skies and variable visibility. Snowing lightly.

FORECAST:

A weak cold front and associated upper trough will bring periods of light snow today with a mix of sun and cloud in the pm in a Southerly flow aloft.. More convective flurries which can be difficult to guesstimate. The FL is presently below surface and will rise to around 1000 m with day time heating, dropping below surface again tonight. A weak impulse of moisture arrives very early Wednesday morning before a surface ridge pushes in with dirty ridging for the pm. Mostly sunny near the end of the daylight hours. Dirty ridging for Thursday with a mix of sun and cloud. Dry weather pattern continues into Saturday. Weak frontal band arrives Sunday pm. Guesstimates: 2-5 cm by Wednesday am, No precipitation until Sunday. 2-5 cm by Monday am.

      GOES IR Image from this am.

       WINDY IMAGE 2023/03/14. 05:00 Hrs.

       Low will bring mostly overcast skies this Tuesday am with some sunny periods in the pm. Cool.

      Active snow fall Tuesday am, flurries in the pm.

      Southerly flow aloft.

          Shortwave trough early Wednesday am, dirty ridging with unsettled weather in the pm. Cool.

       Light precipitation early Wednesday am. Dries out in the am, unsettled in the pm.

              Surface ridge brings a mix of sun and cloud for Thursday. Warms up in the pm.

      Dry Thursday.

              High shifts EAST, dirty ridging for most of the day, overcast Friday night. Warmer.

      Dry on Friday.

      Dry but mostly cloudy on Saturday, this may change.

      Trough arrives Sunday around noon with light precipitation. Above seasonable temps.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

   Ski tourer was airlifted to the clinic after hurting knee in a Sz 1.5 avalanche on Curtain Glacier. Sunday.

      Nice breaks at around 08:30 Hrs.

      09:00 Hrs.

      10:00 Hrs.

      Snowing almost 2 cm per hour at 10:30 Hrs.

      Busy morning on 7Th Heaven.

       From a power flurry at 14:00 Hrs. 2 cm in one hour.

 

      To unsettled weather by 14:10 Hrs.

.       Convective clouds eventually swallowed the sun.

      You have to love convective clouds! Powder to the People!!

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

As the storm slab problem gets trickier, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.

Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.

Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

HIGH--SEA TO SKY ADVISORY available top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

No new local MIN reports as of 07:00 Hrs.

Co-Pilot Sz 2 from: March 12, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Big Air on a sled: Base Jumping

Snow Kiting on a: Volcano

Sledding: Drone Footage

How bad can your day get: Really Bad

ARTICLES:

Blast of late-winter snow forecast for highway passes in Southern B.C., brings high avalanche risk: CBC News

Two avalanches in the Grands Montets Ski Area-No Injuries: France

Managing avalanche risk--Validation in action: Powder Cloud

      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 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.