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

      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 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. 

February 3, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      An avalanche has seriously injured a person in the Polish Tatras Mtns. Article below.   Net Pic.

     Reports of Sz 1 Sa,  Sc Sz1 on steep lee terrain. A few windslabs on Whistler.

      Too much rock, need a reset!!

     A couple of Sc Sz 1 on steep wind loaded alpine terrain on Blackcomb.

      Reports of a few Sz 1 Sa in the backcountry.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Thursday was at 07:45 hrs. -5 Deg C with a 10-30 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

     10:00 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 50-75 KPH SE wind at 2280 m.

      Thursday February 2, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 20-35 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. -7 Deg C with a 35-55 KPH Se wind at 2280 m.

      16:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 20-45 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

Weather Observations for February 3, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -5, Winds were 40-55 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -4, Winds were 35-45 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -3, Winds were 10-20 KPH S--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -2, Winds were 10-15 KPH ESE--Round House

1650 meters     -2, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 182 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -1, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 120 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -2, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.8, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday. 

       As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have a trace of new sow. Base 182 cm.

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

FORECAST:

A slow approaching trough will eventually bring light precipitation in a Southerly flow aloft Friday. Wet, warm, and windy weather for today as the front arrives later this am. Should see the wind pick up by this afternoon.The FL is presently below surface and could rise up to 1500 m, dropping back down to around 1000 m with the passing of the cold front tonight.. Frontal band continues into Saturday with steady light precipitation. More of the same for Sunday with a drying period Sunday pm into Sunday night. Another vigorous frontal band arrives Monday with periods of light/moderate precipitation and slightly above average temperatures. Another strong impulse for Tuesday with a drying trend by Tuesday afternoon. As of now looking like unsettled weather for Wednesday. Guesstimates: 18-24 cm by Saturday am, 10-15 cm by Sunday am, 2-6 cm by Monday am, 25-30 cm by Tuesday am, 35-40 cm by Wednesday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/02/03. 05:00 Hrs.

       Low will send a wet windy Pacific frontal band Friday. Above average temperatures.

      Periods of light precipitation Friday.

      Southerly flow aloft.

       Low upon us Saturday, above average temperatures.

     Light precipitation on Saturday.

       Weak upper trough Sunday, periods of light precip in the am, dries out briefly in pm. Warm.

      Periods of light precipitation Sunday. Dries out in the pm, briefly.

       Strong frontal band Monday with large low in the Aleutians. Slightly cooler, still above average.

      Mini Pineapple with light/moderate precipitation, Monday.

      Light/moderate precipitation Tuesday, dries out in the pm.

       Dries out Wednesday. Unsettled with a mix of sun and cloud. Some Flurries.

       INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Sunny breaks in the am.

      Spin drift on Fissile.

      Lenticular Clouds to the North.

      Going winter Camping.

     Avalanche Deflector Berm on Symphony Chair.

      Some awesome light in the pm.

      Blowing snow!!

     Cautious on all roads, very busy inbounds.

      Great feature in the Horseshoes!

      With flat light and snow on the way be careful of old cornice and avalanche debris.

      Front slowly approaching. 16:30 Hrs. 

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Be careful around freshly wind loaded features.

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

MODERATE---SEA to SKY ADVISORY, Available top right of side bar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Wind Slab, North Aspect: Feb 2, 2023

Lower Body Bag Bowl: Feb 2, 2023

Phalanx Wrap Around: Feb 2, 2023

Tron Funkin Blows: Feb 2, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

When it is too deep: Japan

Sending it large over a: Moving Car

Deep Pow: Floating

Nasty Crash: Snowmobile Fail

ARTICLES:

An avalanche in the Tatras has seriously injured a person: Poland

Three avalanches hit Gurez Villages, no damage reported: Kashmir

Saw the dance of death before our eyes, says J & K's Gulmarg avalanche witness: Kashmir

Fred is Dead in Quebec, Willie and Sam at odds over Springs arrival: Groundhog Day

Coldest air of 2023 plunges into Central North America: Severe Weather Europe

Polar Vortex in the East, High avalanche risk in the West: Canada 

After Son's near-miss, snowmobiler warns of avalanche danger in Wyoming's Snowy Range: Cowboy State

                      WINNER OF THE MARKER GOGGLES FOR NOV-FEB IS JAMIE MAY.

                     BELOW ARE TWO IMAGES HE SUBMITTED BACK ON NOV 28, 2022.

            BEFORE- Above Circle Lake. 4 ski tourers on slope.                                          Jamie May Pic

              AFTER- Sz 2 Sa. No Injuries. Lucky.                                                                Jamie May Pic

      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.