Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog

15 Jan 2023

January 15, 2023

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

Avalanche mitigation on Blackomb Friday produced Sz 1-2.5 Xe, Xh, Xc. Sz 2 Na cycle Thursday.

Xh Sz 2.5 Boxing Day. 2023/01/14.

Rockshot 1, Lakeside Bowl. Sz 2.5 Xh 2023/01/14.

Different perspective of Rock Shot 1 Xh.

Xe Exlax Sz 2. 2023/01/14.

Lakeside Centre. 2023/01/14. Na during storm Sz 2.

Bomb Hole on Roadrunner. Xh.

Avalanche mitigation on Whistler Friday produced Sz 1-2 Xe, Xc, Xl, Xh. Sz 2 Na cycle Thursdy.

Xe Xc work 2023/01/14 Flute Sz 2 Stuie's

Xe, Xc 2023/01/14. Sz 2 Excitation

New Debris on old avalanche debris, Bottom of Shale Slope. Sz 2 Na during storm.

Xe Whistler Peak.

WEATHER YESTERDAY:

10:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

Saturday January 14, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 0-10 KPH ENE breeze at 1835 m.

14:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH ESE Breeze at 1860 m.

16:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH ESE wind at 1860 m.

Weather Observations for January 15, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters -4, Winds were 25-30 KPH ESE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -3, Winds were 25-35 KPH ESE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters -2, Winds were 5-20 KPH SSW--Rendezvous

1835 meters -3, Winds were 5-10 KPH E--Round House

1650 meters -2, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 181 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters -2, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 126 cm--Catskinner

660 meters 0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +4.5, 5.5 mm of precip yesterday.

Board did not flip over yesterday at 14:00 Hrs. trace recorded last night. Base 181 cm..

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

FORECAST:

Low sliding North up the coast from Washington State will bring periods of light precipitation in a Southerly flow aloft. There is even a good chance of some sunny breaks around noon mixed in with some showers. The FL is presently hovering in the 1000 m zone as we continue to have just above average temperatures. Soon to change. The FL might get up to 1400 m today. Maybe higher depending on how much warm air is associated with this low. Fingers crossed. The frontal band continues into Monday with periods of light precipitation. Dries out Monday night briefly, with a few more impulses on Tuesday. Periods of light precipitation Tuesday with snow likely to the valley. Frontal band continues into early Wednesday morning with light-moderate precipitation before drying out in the late am. Cooler temperatures with mostly overcast skies as a dirty ridge establishes dominance into Thursday. Overcast for most of the day Friday with another frontal band arriving Friday night into Saturday. Looking like some storms heading our way with seasonable temps. Models are not in agreement for next weekend. Going with the European model, fingers crossed. Time will tell!! Guesstimates: 8-12 cm by Monday am, 4-8 cm by Tuesday am, 8-12 cm by Wednesday am, 8-12 cm by Thursday am, 0-trace by Friday am.

GOES IR Image from this am.

GOES 17 ABI Image 2023/01/15. 05:00 Hrs.

Low moving North in a Southerly flow aloft. Unsettled. Mix of cloud, sun and snow.

Periods of light precipitation. Warmish.

Southerly flow aloft.

Low out of the Aleutians will bring a weak trough for Monday. Cooler.

Light precipitation in Monday.

Low will send a weak trough on Tuesday. Cooler than Monday.

Light precipitation on Tuesday. Snow to the valley.

Aleutian low will send a more potent frontal band on Wednesday. Snow to the valley.

Frontal band with light to moderate precipitation for Wednesday. Westerly Flow.

Dirty upper ridge for Thursday with mostly overcast skies.

Frontal band pushes into the North on Friday. Slides down the coast for Saturday. Zonal flow.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

It was a busy Saturday.

An awesome day with some cloud in the mix.

Skinning up Body Bag Bowl.

Fissile, looks like some wind affected snow.

Venturing up Pika's Traverse.

Practicing avalanche skills essential to being in the backcountry.

Snow removal on Harmony Towers.

Whistler had more of an avalanche concern. Helicopter availability did not help!

Be wary of large cornices.

Steeps were in great shape Friday.

Tricouni Peak at 16:00 Hrs.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.

Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Caution around convexities or sharp changes in terrain.

CONSIDERABLE--SEA TO SKY ADVISORY AVAILABLE UPPER SIDEBAR

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Tree line at Body Bag Bowl: Jan 14, 2023

Round Mountain: Jan 14, 2023

She will be coming around the mountain when she comes: Jan 14, 2023

Lazy Boy: Jan 14, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Avalanche Control: Daisy Bell

Large Avalanche: Patagonia

Avalanche Mitigation: Brianhead Resort

Slashing: POW

ARTICLES:

Avalanche hits Gurez Village: Kashmir

Avalanches--172 workers shifted to safer location: Kashmir

Two deceased workers had gone to click pictures: Sonamarg Avalanche

Full details of avalanche that killed two snowmobilers released by CAIC: Colorado

A Perfect day: Pistehors.com

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14 Jan 2023

January 14, 2023

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

Minimal avalanche mitigation performed on WB Friday.

Sz 2 Xe bottom of Cougar. Looks like a result out of Peter's Plunge. 2023/01/13.

Xl results out of Tigers Terrace and Franz's. 2023/01/13.

Natural Avalanche Gobblers Knob, UT. 2023/01/12. Click>UAC Report Find human in pic!

Sz 3 Na 2023/01/12. Front Range, CO. Click> CAIC Report Tourers dusted! Oliver Deshier Pic

Multiple avalanches triggered on Loveland Pass Thursday. Article below. From Net Video

WEATHER YESTERDAY:

08:00 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 25-45 KPH South wind at 1860m. -1 at 2280 m 75-100 South wind.

10:00 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 10-40 KPH ESE wind.

Friday January 13, 2023 12:00 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 0-10 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m. Light snow.

14:00 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 10-20 SE wind art 1835 m.

Weather Observations for January 14, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters -4, Winds were 40-50 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -3, Winds were 40-50 KPH S--Whistler Peak

1860 meters -2, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE--Rendezvous

1835 meters -2, Winds were 10-25 KPH ESE--Round House

1650 meters -1, 9.1 mm in 12 Hrs, 22.2 mm in 24 Hrs. Base 187 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters -1, 7.55 mm in 12 Hrs, 17.7 mm in 24 Hrs. Base 130 cm--Catskinner

660 meters +1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.5, 21.0 mm of precip yesterday.

9 cm of new snow at 1570 m.

12 cm of new snow at 1650 m.

As of 06:00 Hrs we have 12 cm of new snow. 9.1 mm in precip gauge. Base 187 cm

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

FORECAST:

Lull in the weather as a dirty ridge brings unsettled weather in a Southerly flow aloft. The freezing level is around 1200 m and has been slowly dropping from 1600 m. Dry overcast conditions for today, some sunny breaks but mostly overcast. Weak frontal bands for Sunday with weak impulses, and periods of light precipitation. Dries out for Monday morning before a more vigorous front arrives Monday around noon with periods of light to moderate precipitation in a more Westerly Zonal flow. Yes snow likely down to the valley. Front pushes through Tuesday into Wednesday am. Dries out Wednesday evening after some more snow for the local mountains. Dirty ridging for Thursday with dry overcast weather. Guesstimates: 0-1 cm by Sunday am, 2-5 cm by Monday am, 2-5 cm by Tuesday am, 15-20 cm by Wednesday am, 8-12 cm by Thursday am.

GOES IR Image from this am.