March 20, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

       An avalanche on the Grand Bec, FR has killed a ski tourer. Articles below.                     DR Photo

      Avalanche kills skier in Marron Bowl near Aspen Highlands. Article below.                     CAIC Image

      Three fatalities and multiple incidents in France avalanches.  Articles below.                  Pistehors Pic

      A snow cat was caught in an avalanche in France, NE Aspect 2250 m. Driver Ok. Pistehors pic 

    An avalanche has killed a ski tourer Crete Des Lanchettes, FR. Article below. A Poissonnier Pic

      An avalanche in Galibier, FR has killed 2 ski tourers. Article below.   Sylvain Asencio Pic

     Large Snowmobile triggered avalanche Henderson Mtn, Montana; Click> GNFAC Report

      Sz 3 Sa Pahaska, WY. Click>GNFAC Report

      Na Sz 2.5 Cornice Triggered deep persistent slab. 2023/03/17. Click> Purcells, M Beschmann Pic

      No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb Sunday.

     Wet loose Na Sz 1-2 Lakeside Bowl from Saturday evening. Different perspective in image below.

     Lakeside Traverse small Na wet Sz 2 by DP. 2023/03/18. Around sweep time.                

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

      Avalanche berm deflector may get bigger?

      

      Multiple wet loose from 2023/03/18 later in the pm.

       It was an an active cycle Saturday evening. Different perspective!

       WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Sunday was at 07:17 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH ESE breeze at 1860 m.

      08:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 25-30 KPH SE wind at 2180 m.

     10:00 Hrs. +1 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH SE breeze at 1860 m.

      Sunday March 19, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. + 2 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH East wind at 2280 m.

     16:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH ESE wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for March 20, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -5, Winds were 20-25 KPH ESE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -3, Winds were   5-10 KPH ENE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -2, Winds were   5-10 KPH S--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -2, Winds were     0-5 KPH S--Round House

1650 meters     -1, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 228 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -1, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 153 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +10.8 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 0 cm of new snow. Base  228 cm.

      As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

A weak frontal band arrives in the pm with light precipitation in a Southerly flow aloft. The FL is hovering in the 900 m range and may spike to 1500-1800 m today dropping back down to surface Tuesday am. May see some pre-frontal flurries this am. The weak impulse will dissipate by early Tuesday am with a building ridge pushing in with sunny skies. Ridge strengthens into Wednesday with more sun and warm temperatures. A more vigorous front arrives Thursday with strong winds and light precipitation with seasonable temperatures. Looking overcast with some flurries on Friday. Dirty ridging for Saturday with mostly overcast skies, some sunny am breaks and the chance of some flurries. Guesstimates: 2-6 cm by Tuesday am above 1600 m, 0-trace by Wednesday am, 0 cm by Thursday am, 5-10 cm by Friday am, 1-2 cm by Saturday am, 0 cm by Sunday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/03/20. 05:00 Hrs.

       Low well off the coast on Monday, split flow with some light precipitation this pm. Warm.

      Split flow, low to the South will bring some light precipitation this pm. 

      Southerly flow aloft.

       Low moves on in the early am, ridging for later am into the pm. Above average temps.

      High pressure strengthens Tuesday with sunny skies.

        High pressure for Wednesday with sunny skies. Above average temperatures.

      High pressure in control on Wednesday. Dry and sunny.

       Deepening low out of the Aleutians will bring a active frontal band.  Cooler.

      Light precipitation for Thursday.

      Mostly overcast Friday, may see some showers.

      Dirty ridging for Saturday.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      High overcast in the am.

      Whistler 2023 IFSA Junior 3 Nationals

      Top of Sudan.                                                                                                 Margy Krause Pic

      Some air time Sudan Couloir.

      Time for a reset.

      Surface Hoar 2023/03/17.

      Laid over, warm surface hoar, FL spiked briefly to +1 Deg C at 2280 m at 12:30 Hrs, 2023/03/19.

      Clouds were getting thicker later in the pm.

       Many tracks on Cowboy Ridge.

 

      Overcast at 16:00 Hrs.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

Rain or periods of intense solar radiation can rapidly enhance the effects of warming.

Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Mt Taylor-South to North: March 19, 2023

Christmas Gully: March 19, 2023

Mount Rohr: March 18, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Wet Loose : Avalanches

No fall Zone: Cascading Sloughs

Daunting task: Snow removal

Skier survives Tetnuldi Avalanche: Georgia

ARTICLES:

Fatal avalanche on the Grand Bec: France

A man has died in an avalanche in the town of Champagny-en-Vanoise: France

Large avalanche just beyond Aspen Highlands boundary kills skier: Colorado

Three fatalities, multiple avalanche incidents in France: Pistehors.com

Avalanche sector Crete Des Lanchettes, 1 Fatality: France (google translate)

An avalanche has killed 2 ski tourers in Laurichand Pass: France (google translate)

Two skiers missing in avalanche near Mt Blanc: Italy

No time for couloir cowboys: Pique

Warm temperatures bring wet snow avalanches to: Switzerland

Spring Equinox, all you need to know: March 20, 2023

Ski patrollers, struggling to afford mountain towns. Will unions help?: Washington Post

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