Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog: Avalanches & Weather

31 Jan 2023

January 31, 2023

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

An avalanche has killed 2 ice climbers on Grosz Icefall, Slovak Republic. Article below. ESSL Pic

A ski tourer was injured in an avalanche in the Krakow Area, Austria. Article below.

A Solo ski tourer suffered an ankle injury after an avalanche in Austria. Article below. G Lehner Pic

No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

Old cornice blast on Whistler.

No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb.

Another cornice blast in Bushrat. Xc avoid the chunks!!!

WEATHER YESTERDAY:

Sunrise was at 07:49 Hrs Monday. -5 Deg C with a 20-25 KPH North wind at 2280 m.

10:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH West breeze at 1835 m.

Monday January 30, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH NNE wind at 1835 m.

14:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 15-25 KPH Se Wind at 1860 m.

16:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 20-30 KPH SW wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for January 31, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters -8, Winds were 25-40 KPH SW--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -10, Winds were 25-35 KPH SW--Whistler Peak

1860 meters -7, Winds were 15-20 KPH SE--Rendezvous

1835 meters -8, Winds were 5-25 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters -8, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 181 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters -10, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 119 cm--Catskinner

660 meters -7, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was -2.6, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have a trace of new snow. Base 181 cm.

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

FORECAST:

A weak trough will bring periods of light precipitation in a Northwesterly, switching to Westerly flow aloft today. Unsettled weather with a mix of sun, cloud and flurries. The FL is below surface and will likely remain there or at surface. Sunny breaks this am with increase in cloud cover this pm. Impulse Wednesday morning with light snowfall ending later in the am. Dries out Wednesday by noon with overcast skies in the pm. Overcast and dry Thursday am, frontal band arrives Thursday night into Friday with a vigorous Pacific warm front moving onshore. Steady precipitation into Sunday. Above average temperatures for Friday into Sunday. Hopefully the FL will remain below 1200 m. Dries out Sunday pm before another front arrives Monday. Guesstimates: 2-4 cm by Wednesday am, 1-4 cm by Thursday am, 8-12 cm by Friday am, 25-35 cm by Saturday am, 20-30m cm by Sunday am, 10-15 cm by Monday am. There are some discrepancies in the models for the weekend, time will tell.

GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

WINDY IMAGE 2023/01/31. 05:00 Hrs.

Tuesday is unsettled with periods of light snow tonight. Seasonable temperatures.

Weak frontal band with very light precipitation.

Northwesterly-Westerly flow aloft.

Wednesday's low will send some periods of light precipitation, fairly dry. Slightly warmer.

Light precipitation on Wednesday am, dries out in the pm.

Thursday sees a series of frontal bands bring light precipitation. Warms up above average.

Periods of light precipitation with a Southerly flow.

Friday is looking wet and windy. Above average temperatures.

Periods of light to moderate precipitation.

Another impulse Saturday with light/moderate precipitation.

Periods of light precipitation Sunday, dries out in the pm.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

Blue Bird in the am.

Tracks from Sunday, reverse loaded slopes.

Symphony Chair in the am.

High overcast was with us before Noon.

Castle Towers and Mount Garibaldi in the background.

Interesting rime/melt freeze formation on sign. Crazy Delicate!

Serratus in the am.

This image taken from Blackcomb.

Pyroclastic!

Looking South just after noon.

Great snowmaking Lower Dave Murray.

Clouds thickened later in the pm.

Brightened up at around 15:30 Hrs.

Overcast by 19:00 Hrs Monday.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

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

Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.

When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

LOW--Sea to Sky advisory available top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Ledge Basin-Stadium-Clevage Bowl: Jan 30, 2023

Buried Surface Hoar: Jan 30, 2023

Seymour Out & Back: Jan 30, 2023

Sz 3.5 on SW facing peak in Wedge Group: Jan 29, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Avoiding the Sluff: Snowboarding

Steep Spine Line: Snowboarding

Gen 4 vs Gen 5: Skidoo

Big Air followed by an avalanche: Fernie

Slope Testing: Avalanche Sheppards

ARTICLES:

Two ice climbers have been killed on Grosz Icefall; Slovak Republic (google translate)

Ski tourer injured in an avalanche near Krakow: Austria (use google translate)

Solo skier injures ankle after avalanche near Muhlbach: Austria (google translate)

UAC warns the backcountry needs a day or two to stabilize: Utah

World halfpipe champion killed by Avalanche in Japan: Switzerland Times

Microcomputers allow researchers to look into avalanches: Moving Sensors

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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.

30 Jan 2023

January 30, 2023

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

An avalanche in Japan has killed two skiers, injured one. Articles below.

Two villagers have been killed in an avalanche in Tangole Village, Kashmir. Article below.

No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb.

24 Human Triggered avalanches in one day. Click> UAC Instagram Page.

WEATHER YESTERDAY:

Sunrise Sunday was at 07:50 Hrs. -14 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH WNW wind at 1835 m.

10:00 Hrs. -17 Deg C with a 10-30 KPH WNW wind at 1835 m.

Sunday January 29, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH east breeze at 1835 m.

14:00 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 0-10 KPH SW wind at 2280 m.

16:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH Variable wind.

18:00 Hrs. -11 Deg C with a 25-40 KPH North wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for January 30, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters -6, Winds were 25-40 KPH N--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -6, Winds were 15-20 KPH NNW--Whistler Peak

1860 meters -5, Winds were 5-10 KPH NNE--Rendezvous

1835 meters -8, Winds were 5-10 KPH SSW--Round House

1650 meters -10, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 182 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters -8, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 123 cm--Catskinner

660 meters -13, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was -4.3, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have no new snow. Base 182 cm.

As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have clear skies and unlimited visibility.

FORECAST:

Flattening ridge of high pressure will bring mostly overcast skies for today in a Northerly flow aloft. Sunny skies this am with an increase in high cloud cover as the day progresses. The FL is below surface and should remain there for the day. Presently we have an inversion. Slight chance of some flurries later in the pm. Tuesday will see another overcast day with some sunny breaks in the am, cloud cover increases by the late pm. A weak frontal band arrives late Tuesday night with periods of light snow into Wednesday am. Dries out Wednesday afternoon with overcast skies. A more vigorous front arrives for Thursday with light precipitation. There are some discrepancies in the models for Thursday so time will tell. Another impulse is forecasted for Saturday in the European model. After some Sunday showers it appears to dry out Sunday pm. Guesstimates: 0-trace by Tuesday am, 1-3 cm by Wednesday am, 1-4 cm by Thursday am, 12-18 cm by Friday am, 10-15 cm by Saturday am, 8-12 cm by Sunday am.

GOES IR IMAGE from this am.