January 8, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

     Two sledders have died in an avalanche in Colorado. Article below. Click>CAIC  Mike Duffy Pic.

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler produced Sz 1-1.5 Xc, Xe, Sc. 1 Sz 2 observed.

      Sz 1 Xe Horseshoes

      Ski Cutting on Surprise.

     Avalanche mitigation on Blackcomb produced Sz 1 Sc in the storm snow. 

      False Face

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

     Sunrise Saturday was at 08:10 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

      10:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 10-25 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

      Saturday January 7, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH ENE wind at 1835 m. S-1.

      14:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 0-10 KPH SSW breeze at 1835 m. Snowing lightly.

      17:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C wit a 0-5 KPH SE breeze at 1860 m. Snowing.

Weather Observations for January 8, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -6, Winds were 30-50 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -5, Winds were 45-60 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -4, Winds were   5-20 KPH SE--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -3, Winds were 10-25 KPH ESE--Round House

1650 meters     -4, 6 cm in 12 Hrs, 7 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 175 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -3, 5 cm in 12 Hrs, 6 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 115 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.8, 1.6 mm of precip yesterday. 

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 6 cm of new snow, 3.7 mm in precip gauge. Base 175 cm

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

FORECAST:

A brief lull in the series of weak frontal bands pushing through this am. Should see some light snowfall later this am in a Southerly flow aloft. The freezing level is at around 900 m this am, and should go up to around 1300 m. Snowfall will intensify during the day with moderate winds in the alpine. Short lived trough ends around midnight. Dries out early Monday am with another weak trough arriving before noon! This short wave trough dissipates by midnight as well with drier weather in its wake. Tuesday is looking dry with mostly overcast skies. A very weak trough for Wednesday with periods of light precipitation. Weak frontal bands still on Track for Thursday into Friday. Looks to dry out Saturday pm. Guesstimates:12-16 cm by Monday am, 12-16 cm by Tuesday am, 0-trace by Wednesday am, 1-4 cm by Thursday am, 10-15 cm by Friday am, 10-15 cm by Saturday am.

      Goes IR Image from this am.

       GOES 17 ABI Image 2023/01/08. 05:00 Hrs.

       Low will send a frontal band today with light precipitation, above average temperatures.

        Light precipitation for Sunday.

      Southerly flow aloft for today.

       Low will send another trough for Monday. Still above average temperatures.

      Periods of light precipitation Monday.

       Weak upper trough will bring overcast skies for Tuesday. Slightly cooler.

      Overcast but mostly dry Tuesday.

   Low still far enough away for mostly overcast skies on Wednesday. Above average temperatures.

      Dry overcast day, weak short lived front arrives Wednesday night.

      Dries out Thursday am, front arrives later in the pm.

     Low will weaken in our zone Thursday, most of the precipitation will go South.

      Low will continue to send shortwave troughs into the South Coast Friday.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Cornices are very cool when sculpted by strong winds.

      Some breaks to the North Saturday am.

      Folks heading for Rabbit Tracks.

     Snowing just before noon.1 cm recorded at 1570 m & 1650 m by 14:00 Hrs.

      Skiing as Green as you can!!

      Tree Line cornices.

      Moist powder below 1100 m.

      Big job shovelling the deck beside Christines. Over 2 meters of snow!

      Recent Profile.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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

Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Sea to Sky Advisory available top right upper side bar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Blew it down the bowl: Jan 7, 2023

North Slope of Round Mountain: Jan 7, 2023

Gin Peak: Jan 7, 2023

Brandywine Pit: Jan 7, 2023

Mt Sproatt: Jan 7, 2023

Chief Pascal: Jan 7, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Staying ahead of the: Sluff

Big Roof: Big roof avalanche

Remote Trigger: Buried Surface Hoar

Looks Fun: Snow Biking

Crazy avalanches: Utah

ARTICLES: 

Two sledders have been killed in an avalanche east of Winter Park: Colorado

Heavy rains and snow clobber California and more is on the way: Series of Atmospheric Rivers

State of emergency declared in California due to winter storms: Wet Golden State

As deaths surge, scientists study the link between climate change and avalanches: Inside Climate News

      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 7, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      Avalanche control on Blackcomb Friday produced  some Sz 1 storm slabs. Xe, Xl, Sc.

      Sz 1 Peter's Plunge on Blackcomb.

      Sz 1 Na Dry Loose out of Lakeside Bowl Friday.

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler Friday produced Sz 1-2 storm slabs Xe, Xl, Sc.

      Sz 1-1.5 Xl (avalauncher round) Franz's Meadow. 2023/01/06.

      Xe powder burn Roundhouse Roll. 

      Na (natural avalanches) observed on Whistler Sz 1-2 during the storm.

      A man has been recovered after dying in an avalanche in Norway. Article below.    Net Pic

     WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      07:55 Hrs Friday am, +3 Deg C in the valley.                                              Marge Krause Image

     10:00 Hrs, Mount Currie. 

      Friday January 6, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 15-40 ESE wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 5-20 KPH SSW wind at 1835 m.

      17:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C 35-60 KPH South wind at 2280 m. Front approaching!

      From same time frame as above image.

Weather Observations for January 7, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -5, Winds were 50-70 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -4, Winds were 45-65 KPH ESE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -3, Winds were 15-35 KPH S--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -3, Winds were 15-35 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters     -1, 10 cm in 12 Hrs, 12 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 176 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -2,   6 cm in 12 Hrs,   7 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 116 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters    +1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.0, 5.7 mm of precip yesterday. 

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 10 cm of new snow. Base 176 cm. 9.2 mm in the precip gauge.

        As of 07:00 hrs this am we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility. Full moon Jan 6th.

FORECAST:

The large low will continue to send troughs our way. For today we can expect a lull in the snow for this am, a weak trough pushes through this afternoon in a Southerly flow aloft. The freezing level will hover in the 1200 m range. Periods of light snow will start near noon and end near midnight. Another trough pushes in Sunday with periods of light snow into Monday am. Another break between the frontal bands Monday am with periods of light snow for the pm. This short lived trough dries out by Monday night. Lull in the train of troughs for Tuesday with overcast skies and a dry day. Next trough arrives Wednesday with a weak impulse, it gains strength Wednesday night and becomes a full blown winter storm Thursday. Continues into Friday with a break by the afternoon. Guesstimates: 5-10 cm by Sunday am, 12-16 cm by Monday am, 2-6 cm by Tuesday am, 0-trace cm by Wednesday am, 12-16 cm by Thursday am.

      GOES IR Image from this am.

     GOES 17 ABI Image 2023/01/07. 05:00 Hrs.

       Low will send a broad upper level trough Saturday, above normal temperatures.

      Periods of light snow starting around noon Saturday. 

      Southerly flow aloft.

        Shortwave trough for Sunday with slightly above average temperatures.

       Periods of light snow for Sunday. A break in the am.

      Low will send yet another short wave trough for Monday. Slightly cooler. Some breaks.

      Low Monday will send some snow, break in the am, short precipitation window in the pm.

      California continues to get pummelled by the aggressive jet stream and pineapple expresses.

       Split flow for Tuesday, dry overcast day with above average temperatures.

      Dries out Tuesday with high overcast.

  Low continues to send a series of upper level troughs Wednesday-Saturday. Weak trough Wednesday.

     Vigorous trough Thursday. Strong winds with light to heavy precipitation.

       INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Morning View, prior to sunrise which was at 08:10 Hrs.

      30 cm rule, 08:00 Hrs. Friday.

     Awesome looking am.

      Strong Winds, right snow=Big Cornices.

      Nice lighting.

      11:00 Hrs, eventually more alpine terrain was open on Whistler.

      Some nice soft snow in the alpine and just below tree line.
 

     Everyone was having a good time.

     Nice telemark turns.

      As it snows more this becomes exponentially more important.

      Wind Sculpting.

      Red Chair had some icing issues in the am!

     Strong winds and a spike in the freezing level up to 1900 m Thursday night.

     It rained, then snowed, then froze on the deck by the umbrella bar.

      A partially frozen slurry.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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

Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Sea to Sky Advisory available in the upper right side bar. 

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Scary hoar in Lazy Boy's Bottom: Jan 6, 2023

Gin Peak: Jan 6, 2023

Playing the Flute: Jan 6, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

North Shore Avalanche Conditions Report: Jan 6, 2023

Avalanche Awareness: Red Flags

Reactive Snow: Take That

Sunset pow shreds: Snow Bike

ARTICLES:

Swedish man dies in an avalanche in Rauma: Norway

Avalanche control results in long waits getting to Alta, Snowbird: Utah

Two guests skied in a closed area and triggered a slide: Telluride Ski Area

A person buried in an avalanche made it out unharmed: Montana

 

      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.