August 21, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      Snow records fall on Mt Ruapehu, NZ. Article below.                                      Lyall Crump Photo

      Na slab avalanche on the Sentinal, NSW, AUT. Article below.                   Dylan Robinson Image

      NZ Avalanche Advisory 2023/08/17. Check below. Instagram.                                     NZAA Pic

      WEATHER PAST WEEK:

      Monday August 14, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +21 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH North breeze at 1835 m.

     12:00 Hrs. Monday. +32 Deg C. High in the valley of +36.7 Deg C.

      Tuesday August 15, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +22 deg C with a 10-25 KPH SW wind at 1835 m.

      12:00 Hrs Tuesday. +33 Deg C.

      Wednesday August 16, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +20 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH North wind at 1835 m.

     12:00 Hrs Wednesday. +31 Deg C. Smoke in the air. AQHI went from 2-8! High of +36 Deg C.

      Thursday August 17, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +20 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH SAW wind at 1835 m.

     12:00 Hrs Thursday. +28 Deg C. High in the valley of +31.6 Deg C.

      Friday August 18, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +10 Deg C with a 15-25 KPH SW wind at 1835 m.

     12:00 Hrs Friday. +21 Deg C at 660 m.

      Saturday August 19, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +10 Deg C with a 5-20 KPH North wind at 1835 m.

      12:00 Hrs Saturday. +21 Deg C.

      Sunday August 20, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +11 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH WNW wind at 1835 m.

      12:00 Hrs Sunday. +21 Deg C. AQHI Index 10+! High as it goes!  Best to avoid this air quality!

Weather Observations for August 21, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2180 meters     +8, Winds were 20-25 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1835 meters   +11, Winds were   5-15 KPH SE--Roundhouse  

1650 meters     +8, 0 mm in 12 Hrs, 0 mm in 24 Hrs.--Pig Alley

1570 meters   +10, 0 mm in 12 Hrs, 0 mm in 24 Hrs.--Catskinner

  660 meters     +7, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +26.7, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

     

      As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have a mix of sun and cloud with smokey skies. AQHI 4 at 660 m.

FORECAST:

Weak upper level low will bring a mix of sun and cloud in a SouthWesterly flow aloft. Smoke still in the area with a weak offshore flow, should change this pm with a more Southerly flow pushing the smoke out of this zone. The FL is hovering around 3500 m. More of the same on Tuesday with less smoke. Possible showers on Wednesday with overcast skies and much cooler temps.  Looks like tropical storm Hillary may bring some much needed rain to the Okanagan region. Warmer temperatures and sun return for Thursday and should continue into the weekend. Some rain would be nice! Hopefully a change but drought conditions could prevail. Guesstimates: 0 mm by Tuesday am, 0-trace by Wednesday am, 0-1 mm by Thursday am, some models calling for 7,  0 mm by Friday am, 0 mm by Saturday am,  some models calling for 4 mm, 0 mm by Sunday am.

      GOES IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/08/21. 06:00 Hrs.

 Mix of sun and cloud for today with smoke dissipating as the day progresses. Seasonable temps. 

      Mix of sun and cloud for Monday. No precipitation expected.

       SouthWesterly flow aloft, with offshore flow this am.

       Mix of sun and cloud Tuesday. Seasonable temperatures.

      Low moves down the coast Tuesday. Possible showers Tuesday night.

        Low will bring overcast skies with some possible showers on Wednesday. Cooler temps.

       Low should bring some showers for Wednesday.

       High pushes back in for Thursday with a mix of sun and cloud. Seasonable temps.

      Sun with some cloud Thursday. No precipitation.

      Mix of sun and cloud Friday. Above average temps.

      Sunny and warm Saturday. No precipitation forecasted at this time.

      High in our zone Sunday?, sunny and above average temps.

      Likely warm temperatures and offshore flow for the weekend into Monday. More Smoke!!

      INFORMATION AND OBSERVATIONS:

      Overlord Glacier Monday Pm. High at 2280 m was +23.5  Deg C at 18:00 Hrs.

      Fitzsimmons Creek same day. High in the valley +36.7 Deg C.

      Nice colours!

      Broad upper level ridging Tuesday am. High in the valley of +36.1 Deg C.

      A receding Armchair Glacier. Tuesday. High at 2280 m was +23 Deg C.

      Sunset was at 20:31 Hrs Tuesday. Sunrise was at 06:01 Hrs. 14 Hrs-30 Min of daylight.

      Smoke returned Wednesday am. AQHI 8 by noon. Significant change from the am!

      Much clearer skies Wednesday evening, AQHI down to 4. High of +21 at 2280 m.

      Still smoke Wednesday night.

      Mix of sun and cloud around noon Thursday.

      Blackcomb Bowl Thursday pm. +17 Deg C the high at 2180 m. Clouds dissipated. AQHI 1.

      Smoke drifting East Friday am, winds will likely bring smoke back our way over the weekend.

      Friday evening AQHI 1. Awesome evening with a few clouds. Cooler Temps.

      Projected smoke for Saturday/Sunday! Offshore flow.

      Smoke pushed back in Saturday am.

      11:00 Hrs Saturday. AQHI at 8. Not ideal hiking conditions!!

      By 15:00 Hrs Saturday AQHI went to 5.

      Sunday 10:00 Hrs. AQHI at 7. Went to 10 by 11:00 Hrs. 10+ by noon! Best to be indoors!!!

      Smoke on the water--17:00 Hrs Sunday. AQHI was down to 5.

SHORT CLIPS:

SnowBiking: New Zealand

Ski Cutting in New Zealand: Tukino Ski Patrol

 MTB Crash: OMG

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory: 

Wanaka: August 15, 2023

Instagram: August 17, 2023

Mt Cook: August 17, 2023

Wet Slabs: August 19, 2023

Mt Cook: August 19, 2023

ARTICLES:

Snow records fall on Mt Ruapehu: New Zealand

Big Lines, Bigger Avalanches, Spring Snow on the Main Range: New South Wales

Why I didn't stick to the plan, a backcountry lesson we all need to learn: Australia

Update on the law suit against Park City Powder Cats after avalanche death: March 9, 2023

A Pacific marine heat wave has arrived in B.C. waters. Here's what it means for ocean life: CBC News

Mount Bachelor suspends summer operations due to heavy wildfire smoke: Oregon

From Ariel photographs to precise snow depth: WSL