January 19, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

     An avalanche has killed 8 people in Southwest China. Article below.                CCTV Image

      Avalanche disrupts power, closes road in Ophir, CO. Article below.                SMSD Photo

      Sz 3 Na Ophir Valley, CO. 2023/01/18. Click>CAIC Report                      Chris Dickson Image 

      Injured snowboarder rescued after avalanche in Wyoming. Article below.               GTNP Image
 

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler  Wednesday produced Sz 1-2. Xl, Xe, Sc. 35-70 cm storm slabs.

      Xl Sz 1 Wednesday am.

      Avalanche mitigation on Blackcomb produced Sz 1-1.5 Xe, Xl, Sc. 1 Sa Sz 2.

      Sz 1's  Xl in Lakeside Bowl.

      Rock Shot 1 in Lakeside.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Wednesday was at 08:03 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 20-50 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m. S+1.5

     10:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 15-45 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

      Wednesday January 18, 2023. 13:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH South wind at 1835 m.

     16:00 Hrs. -7 Deg C with a 10-15 KPH West wind at 1860 m. Snowed 3.7 cm from 15:15-16.15.

Weather Observations for January 19, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters   -11, Winds were   5-10 KPH W--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -9, Winds were 10-30 KPH W--Whistler Peak

1860 meters   -11, Winds were     0-5 KPH SE--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -9, Winds were     0-5 KPH SW--Round House

1650 meters     -9, 6 cm in 12 Hrs, 17 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 200 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -8, 5 cm in 12 Hrs, 13 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 138 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -3, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.2, 6.7 mm of precip yesterday.

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 6 cm of new snow. 6.0 mm recorded in precip Gauge. Base 200cm.

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

      Windy image from same time frame as above.

FORECAST:

Ridging for today in a Northerly flow aloft. The FL is below surface and will remain below surface through the day. Sunny this am with an increase in cloud as the day progresses. Unsettled weather for Friday with more cloud than sum, chance of a flurry. Cold front and associated short wave trough will bring periods of light to moderate snowfall Saturday with moderate winds. Dirty shortwave ridging Sunday will bring mostly overcast skies with some flurries. Sunny breaks likely in the am. Seasonable temperatures. Unsettled Monday with periods of light snowfall and mostly overcast skies. Groundhog day for Tuesday. Drying trend for most of next week. Guesstimates: 0 cm by Friday am, 0-trace by Saturday am, 12-16 cm by Sunday am, trace-2 cm by Monday am, 2-6 cm by Tuesday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

       GOES 17 ABI IMAGE 2023/01/19. 05:00 Hrs.

      Dirty upper ridge for Thursday with cooler temperatures.

      No precipitation expected Thursday.

      Northerly flow aloft.

        500 MB map for Thursday.

      850 Mb for Friday, dirty ridging with cooler temperatures.

      Dry for Friday, may see a snow flurry.

       Cool low will send a cold front our way on Saturday.

      Light-moderate precipitation for Saturday.

      High pushes onto the coast Sunday, unsettled weather, mix of cloud,  sun, and flurries.

      Flurries expected on Sunday, mostly in the late pm.

      Periods of light snow for Monday.

      Mostly overcast with periods of light snow on Tuesday.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Snowing in the valley Wednesday am.

     Snow line around 800 m Wednesday am.

      11:00 Hrs. Snowing and blowing. Snowing 2 cm per hr at 1650 m. 

      Blowing snow on the Roundhouse Back Deck.  11:30 Hrs. Max winds last night 75 KPH at 1820 m.

      Awesome snow storm.

      Harmony opened around noon. Peak Chair still closed a 14:00 Hrs.

      By 14:00 Hrs Wednesday at Pig Alley. 11cm of new snow, with a base of 200cm!!! 

      Entrance to Bushrat, on the growing cornice.

      Medievac off Whistler.

      There were nice turns to be had!

     AvSAR course in Revelstoke. Looks like a lot of experience!!                        

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

 

Travel and Terrain Advice

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

Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

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

The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.

MODERATE--Sea to Sky Advisory available in the side bar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Wind & Pow; Jan 18, 2023

Brockton: Jan 17, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Gnarly Pillow Line leads to: Wipeout

Dicy tree crossing: Snowmobiling Skills

Wind Slabs: AvyBites

Triggering Test Slopes: Valuable Infornmation

ARTICLES:

8 people confirmed dead after an avalanche in Southwest China: Tibet

Injured snowboarder rescued after avalanche: Moose, Wyoming

Avalanche knocks out power to Ophir: Colorado

Work halted at Zojila Tunnel after recent avalanches: Kashmir

Managing Avalanche Risk--You're always (a little) wrong: Powder Cloud

You should pat attention to this when you go off-piste: Switzerland

How weather impacts avalanche conditions & forecasting tools for safe backcountry travel: OpenSnow

      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. 

January 18, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      Avalanche derails train in Alaska. Article below.                                      Judy McKinley Image

      Detailed report on the Pumphouse Lake avalanche fatalities. Click>CAIC Report. CAIC Pic

      Lost skier found dead in an avalanche. Austria. Article Below.                       Rescue Services Pic

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler. hard to see!

      Back Bowl and Gun Barrels.

     No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb Tuesday.

      Xc Chainsaw 2023/01/17, in the am. Pic in the pm. Cornice chunks, no slab release. 

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Tuesday was at 08:04 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 20-30 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

      10:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

      Tuesday January 17, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 10-35 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

     Snowing lightly at 1860 m. 14:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH S wind at 1860 m.

     16:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

Weather Observations for January 18, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -6, Winds were 100-160 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -6, Winds were     55-70 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -4, Winds were     30-60 KPH S--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -4, Winds were     30-60 KPH ESE--Round House

1650 meters     -2, 8 cm in 12 Hrs, 9 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 195 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -3, 4 cm in 12 Hrs, 5 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 132 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.0, 0.9 mm of precip yesterday. 

Brunt of the precipitation yesterday went South, 6.0 mm in Squamish compared to 0.9 mm in Whistler.

      Looks like  8 cm, 5.2 mm in the precip gauge. Base 195 cm.

       As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have obscured skies, limited visibility and snowing 2 cm/hr.

FORECAST:

A vigorous cold front will dissipate by this afternoon in a South Westerly flow aloft. Light snow above 1000 m today with the FL dropping to surface this pm, with flurries to the valley later this am. Dirty ridging tonight into Thursday with overcast skies and cooler temperatures. Sunny breaks in the mix. Weak ridging continues into Friday with mostly overcast weather and some breaks. Short wave trough arrives Friday night with light-moderate snow easing to flurries later in the am, dries out for the pm with overcast skies. Another gray day Sunday with the possibility of some sunny breaks. Another short wave trough for Sunday night into Monday am. Dry unsettled weather for early next week. Guesstimates: 8-12 cm by Thursday am, 0-trace by Friday am, 2-6 cm by Saturday am, 8-12 cm by Sunday am, 0 cm by Monday am, 2-6 cm by Tuesday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI IMAGE 2023/01/18. 05:00 Hrs.

      A weakening front will dissipate by this afternoon with a dirty ridge building Wednesday pm.

      Periods of light precipitation this am. Dries out Wednesday pm.

          South Westerly-Westerly flow aloft.

               Dirty ridging Thursday with overcast weather and cooler temperatures.

       Dirty ridging Thursday with a trough just to our North.

          Unsettled with overcast skies Friday, System arrives late Friday pm. Warmish.

       Low sending frontal bands North, overcast Friday. Trough arrives late in the pm.

      Short wave trough for Saturday with drying trend after impulse. Cooler.

       Light precipitation Saturday with drier weather in the pm.

      Dirty ridging Sunday.

      Weak short wave trough Monday.

       INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Snow line was around 900 m Tuesday am.

      Whistler still performing avalanche mitigation.

      A bit every day is always good!! 17 cm in 48 Hrs at 1650 m.

      Icicle Factory

      Amazing what wind and melt freeze will do!

     Always amazed at the tensile strength in snow!!

      49 cm has fallen at 1650 m in the past 7 days.

       Rendezvous Snacks.

      Thick low level cloud above valley on Tuesday.

     Some breaks in the front 16:00 Hrs.

     Tuesday 2023/01/17 21:00 Hrs. Snow less than 1 cm per hour at 1650 m.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.

Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.

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.

The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.

HIGH HAZARD--Sea to Sky Advisory available top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

S2S Gondola/Stadium Gully: Jan 17, 2023

Lazyboy Snow Pits: Jan 17, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Slow motion Serac Collapse: Manaslu

Cool Ski Trick: Austria

Next level in the steep trees: Sledding Skills

Apres in Europe: Valthorens

Top 10 Avalanches: World Wide

ARTICLES:

Missing skier found dead in an avalanche: Austria (May need google translate)

 Avalanche derails train South of Girdwood: Alaska

B.C. avalanche survivor in ICU on long road to recovery: Nelson

On skiing with dogs: WildSnow

Over 1100 people rescued, relocated from avalanche prone areas: 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.