Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog

17 Jan 2023

January 17, 2023

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

An avalanche has killed a ski tourer in Davos, CH. Article Below. Net Pic

Avalanche mitigation on Whistler Monday produced Sz 1-1.5 Xe, Xt, Sc, Xc. Storm Slabs. Xc Sz 2

Minimal AC on Blackcomb Monday am.

Xc Sz 2 5-0 Monday am. Be careful in the bowls with flat light, lots of debris.

WEATHER YESTERDAY:

Sunrise Monday was at 08:05 Hrs. -4 Deg c with a 15-25 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

10:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

Monday January 17, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 10-25 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

14:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 10-15 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

16:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 30-35 KPH South wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for January 17, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters -7, Winds were 40-55 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -6, Winds were 40-45 KPH ESE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters -4, Winds were 15-30 KPH SE--Rendezvous

1835 meters -5, Winds were 15-25 KPH ESE--Round House

1650 meters -3, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 7 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 190 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters -3, trace in 12 Hrs, 4 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 131 cm--Catskinner

660 meters +1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.5, 4.2 mm of precip yesterday.

As of 06:00 Hrs this am we received 1 cm overnight, 1 mm in the precip gauge. Base 190 cm.

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

FORECAST:

A warm front will push through today in a Westerly flow aloft. The FL could go as high as 1300 m later today, dropping to surface by tomorrow. Periods of light precipitation for today with moderate to strong Alpine winds. Trailing cold front will bring snow to the valley Wednesday with strong alpine winds. The front dissipates by Wednesday pm (evening) with a a dirty upper level ridge building into our Zone. Mostly overcast for Thursday with the odd sunny break around noon. Weak dirty ridging into Friday am, weak front arrives for Friday evening with a short wave frontal band bringing a quick impulse of snow. Dries out Saturday with mostly overcast skies for the later am into the pm. Unsettled Sunday with mostly overcast skies and some snow flurries. Another short wave trough for Monday with periods of light snow. Guesstimates: 8-12 cm by Wednesday am, 10-15 cm by Thursday am, 0-trace by Friday am, 1-4 cm by Saturday am, 8-12 cm by Sunday am.

GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

GOES 17 ABI IMAGE 2023/01/17. 05:00 Hrs.

Dirty ridging this am with a warm front this Tuesday pm. Trailing cold front Tuesday.

Warm front pushing in Tuesday with periods of light precipitation.

Westerly flow aloft.

Aleutian low sending a cold front through Tuesday. Cooler temperatures.

Periods of light to moderate precipitation Wednesday. Dries out later in the pm.

High pushes in Thursday, dirty ridging. Cooler temperatures.

Dirty ridging for Thursday, may see a flurry.

High continues to push in, low close by. Dirty ridging for Friday. Slightly warmer.

Weak dirty ridging for Saturday. Unsettled. May see a bit of snow.

Frontal band on Saturday with periods of light snow.

Dirty ridging for Sunday, mostly overcast with lingering cloud.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

Snowing lightly Monday am.

More of a Westerly Zonal flow with cooler temperatures and snow on the way!

Looks good for some more snow Tuesday into Wednesday. 20-30 mm possible.

Snow line around 1100 m.

Whistler busy with avalanche mitigation!

Thin cloud cover in the alpine at around 10:30 Hrs.

Roping off Boarder Cross Course. Skiers Right on Springboard.

From 06:00 -14:00 Hrs 4 cm of new snow. Base 132 cm at 1570m. 6cm of new recorded at 1650 m.

Nice soft snow to be had Monday.

Light snow for most of the day.

Stellar Conglomerates.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Avoid rock outcroppings, convexities, and anywhere the snowpack is thin and/or variable.

Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.

Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

MODERATE HAZARD--Sea to Sky advisory available top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Mid Storm Holyburn: Jan 16, 2023

Steep Creek-Blowdown: Jan 16, 2023

Strachan: Jan 16, 2023

Ridge above Hanging Lake: Jan 15, 2023

Falling Trees on Green: Jan 15, 2023

Sproatt: Jan 15, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Steep Skiing: Cool Sluffs

Nice Light: Deep Pow

Nice Snow: Cranking Turns

Line of the Year: Steep & Narrow

ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed a ski tourer in Davos; Switzerland

Three people injured, 10 people involved in an avalanche near Lech: Austria

Everything you need to know about Avalanche Canada's flexible forecast system: Snowriders

University of Calgary reveals tactics to minimize travel risk in wake of Backcountry Avalanche warnings: Alberta

Surviving my survival of la Traviata: Powder Canada

New detailed Swiss Avalanche danger scale helps asses risk: SLF

More rain, snow from ninth in series of storms: California

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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.

16 Jan 2023

January 16, 2023

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

Sz 2.5 Na Upper Disease Ridge. Likely 2023/01/13. MIN Report Below. Simon Thomson Pic

Older Sz 2 Hidden Peak. MIN Report below. Sakology Pic

An avalanche has killed a ski tourer on Argentiere Glacier, FR. Article below. Net Pic

Avalanche mitigation on Whistler Sunday produced Sz 1-1.5 Xe, Xt, Xl, Xc, Sc.

West Bowl Sunday am.

Old results above Glacier Bowl.

Avalanche mitigation on Blackcomb produced some Sz 1-1.5 Xc, Xe, Sc. storm slabs.

Xc Blackcomb Bowl.

Old west loose on Lower Tantalus.

Recent wet loose in the Brandywine Area.

WEATHER YESTERDAY:

Sunrise Sunday was at 08:05 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH East breeze at 1835 m.

10:00 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH SE wind at 1860m.

Sunday January 15, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH East wind at 1835 m.

Power Flurry 14:30 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH SSW breeze at 1860 m.

15:45 Hrs enjoying the new snow!!

Weather Observations for January 16, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters -6, Winds were 25-35 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -6, Winds were 40-50 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters -4, Winds were 5-10 KPH S--Rendezvous

1835 meters -4, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters -2, 9 cm in 12 Hrs, 9 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 187cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters -2, 7 cm in 12 Hrs, 7 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 130 cm--Catskinner

660 meters +1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.8, 0.05mm of precip yesterday.

As of 06:00 Hrs we have 9 cm of new snow, 4.6 mm in precip gauge. Base 187

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

FORECAST:

Low and associated front will bring light precipitation this am in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The FL is hovering in the 1000 m range and may go up to 1300 m today. Precipitation will ease later this pm (16:00 hrs?) with overcast skies expected into this evening. Another frontal band arrives early Tuesday am with periods of light precipitation becoming moderate by early Wednesday am. Mostly overcast skies by daybreak Wednesday with dirty ridging bring unsettled weather for Wednesday pm. Sunny breaks in the pm. Cooler temperatures with the FL remaining at surface. A weak frontal band arrives for Thursday with overcast skies and some afternoon flurries. Cooler temperatures. Unsettled Friday am with another frontal band arriving Friday am with periods of light precipitation. Guesstimates: 2-6 cm by Tuesday am, 18-26 cm by Wednesday am, 1-5 cm by Thursday am, trace-2 cm by Friday am, 5-10 cm by Saturday am.