December 6, 2022

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      Avalanche on Fissile Sunday. MIN Report Below. Skier Accidental (Sa)                  LBodkins Pic

      Sz 1 Sa Bagel Bowl Sunday. MIN Report below.                                                 Steve1441 Pic

      No new avalanche activity on Whistler.

      No new avalanche activity on Blackcomb.

      Older wet loose in Lakeside Centre.

      Older loose dry on Whistler.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      December 5, 2022. 12:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with. 0-5 KPH SE breeze.

Weather Observations for December 06, 2022 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -9, Winds were 30-50 KPH SSW--Horstman Hut

2180 meters   -10, Winds were 30-45 KPH W-Whistler Peak

1860 meters   -11, Winds were 10-35 KPH SSW-Rendezvous  

1835 meters   -11, Winds were   5-10 KPH NE--Round House

1650 meters     -9, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 86 cm --Pig Alley

1570 meters     -9, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 1 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 41 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -6, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was -4.7, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

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

FORECAST:

A weak short wave trough will bring overcast skies today in a Northerly flow aloft.  Some snow flurries with the freezing level around sea level, may see the odd break.  Aleutian low will send a series of frontal bands our way Wednesday into early next week. First front arrives Wednesday afternoon with increasing snow as the day progresses. Strong alpine winds and seasonable temperatures will bring snow to the valley. Periods of snow on Thursday. Periods of light to moderate snowfall Friday. Periods of light snow on Saturday. Drier Sunday and Monday with unsettled wether. Guesstimates: 0-1 cm by Wednesday am, 10-15 cm by Thursday am, 4-8 cm by Friday am, 15-20 cm by Saturday am.

      GOES IR Image from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI Image 2022/12/06. 05:00 Hrs.

       Weak short wave trough for today, seasonable temperatures.

      Cloudy skies with periods of light for Tuesday.

      Northerly flow aloft, will slowly transition to Westerly.

         Low moves down the coast Wednesday with some snow arriving later in the afternoon.

      Active front slides down the coast, with periods of light/moderate precipitation.

       Low well to the North Thursday, with light precipitation. seasonable temperatures.

      Light precipitation Thursday. 

         Low continues to send some weak frontal bands our way with light snow.

       Periods of light snow on Friday.

     INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS: 

      Looks like some straight lining.

       Making clouds on Blackcomb Monday am.

      Mount Fee with some Eagles flying by.

      Harmony Lift is opened. Uphill access has changed.

      Ski Tracks--Wolverine Tracks.

     Paragliding off Blackcomb.

      Snowmaking can be hard on the trees.

      Late pm Light.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Avalanche on Fissile: Dec 4, 2022

Bagel Bowl Sz 1 Avalanche: Dec 4, 2022

Snowshoeing-Mount Sproat (East approach): Dec 4, 2022

Paul Ridge Laps: Dec 4, 2022

VIDEOS:

Controlled Falling: Snowboarding

Nice Turns: Snow Biking

Sluff Management: Snow Boarding

How do you get a permit to do this: Heli-Drop

ARTICLES:

Ease into the terrain: Powder Picker

2 ski tourers caught in an avalanche in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, no fatalities: France

Considerable avalanche danger over widespread areas in the southern Alps: Switzerland

Remote triggered avalanche on Tamarack Peak: California

2 People Caught in separate avalanches near Berthoud Pass 2022/12/03: Colorado

Indiana Hiker caught in an avalanche: Colorado

Measurements of mass balance in dense avalanche events: Cambridge Core

Utah Avalanche Awareness Week provides training for skiers: Salt Lake City

Skier-triggered slide, increased avalanche activity: Wyoming

How can we predict the climate in 50 years if we cannot forecast the weather next week: Cliff Mass

December 02, 2022

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      Fx Line on Whirlwind.                                                                           Dave Sarkany Image

Hi, not the best picture. But shows a mid storm slide prob went on the Nov 21 crust. There is a 5cm 4f layer right above the crust. 20cm - 120cm X 100m. Sz 2. DS

      No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb.

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

      Older Fracture line on Whistler.

      Old fracture line from AC on Wednesday.

      Dry loose on Cougar Chutes.

     WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Thursday December 1, 2022. 12:00 Hrs. -14 Deg C at 1835 m, 5-10 KPH ENE Breeze.

Weather Observations for December 02, 2022 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters   -14, Winds were 35-50 KPH SSW--Horstman Hut

2180 meters   -13, Winds were 20-30 KPH NSSW-Whistler Peak

1860 meters   -12, Winds were 10-20 KPH S-Rendezvous  

1835 meters   -11, Winds were   5-15 KPH S--Round House

1650 meters   -11, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 94 cm --Pig Alley

1570 meters   -12, trace in 12 Hrs, tracein 24 Hrs. Base 48cm--Catskinner

  660 meters   -15, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was -7.7, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday. 

      As of 07:00 Hrs this am, we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility. Very light snowfall.

FORECAST:

An upper level closed low will bring overcast skies today in a weak Northerly flow aloft. A few isolated snow flurries may infiltrate our zone today, but unlikely. I guess you could say there is a slight inversion.  A dirty ridge for Saturday with a mix of sun and cloud, temperatures will moderate and become more seasonable. Ridge strengthens for Sunday with inverted temperatures likely with seasonable temperatures in the valley. Another sunny day on Monday. May see a change in the pattern on Tuesday/Wednesday of next week, time will tell! Guesstimates: 0-trace by Saturday am?, no precipitation until Dec 6, 2022. Fingers crossed we get a few centimetres out of Friday's brush by!! 

      GOES IR Image from this am.

      GOES  17 ABI  image, 2022/12/02. 05:00 Hrs.

          Upper level closed low off Vancouver Island , overcast and cold for Friday.

      Overcast skies with periods of light snow on Friday?. (Flurries)

       Northerly flow aloft switching to weak Westerly flow aloft.

      Arctic High pushes back for Saturday with a mix of sun and cloud. Warmer.

       Low slowly moves South, some cloud with sunny breaks with a dirty Arctic Ridge.

          Arctic Ridge strengthens Sunday, seasonable temperatures.

      High strengthens Sunday as low slides further South.

           Large low benefiting the Pacific Northwest, but dry foe Southern BC on Monday.

      That is a large high, not so good for snow!!

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

     Gate at Pika's Traverse for uphill travel.

      Getting ready for the uphill.

     Tracks on Singing Pass Trail.

      Powder to the People.

       Surface hoar is growing.

      Top Tower Glacier Creek Gondola.

      Snow making has been very busy. One of the large clouds it produced on Thursday.

      Man made ribbon of snow to the valley.

     Alta Lake ice forming. North outflow in the valley.

      Rainbow Mountain < click for description.

      Test Profile-2022/11/27. 

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Seek out wind sheltered terrain below tree line where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.

FULL REPORT AVAILABLE ON THE SIDE BAR.

MOUNTAIN CONDITIONS REPORT:

Whirlwind Peak, Singing Pass, Musical Bumps: Dec 2, 2022

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Top East Col: Dec 1, 2022

East Col: Dec 1, 2022

Red Heather Meadows: Dec 1, 2022

VIDEOS:

Early Season Avalanche Conditions: AvyBites

A lot of snow=Avalanches Likely: MTAvalanche

New snow instability: Sluff

ARTICLES:

How to explore new places: Powder Cloud

Arctic Outflow Warning for Sea to Sky: Environment Canada

Avalanche warning issued for 4 States as snow wallops Western US: ABC News