January 10, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      A Nelson police officer has died in an avalanche, another injured. Article below.  Andrea S Pic.

      A man has died in an avalanche on Mt Charleston, Nevada. Article below.                     Net Pic

      An avalanche on the Col de Larche. FR, has killed a ski tourer. Article below.  Elisa Gilbert Image

      Shooting Cracks!! Low angle terrain. 2023/01/09. Thanks for the intel. @spearheadmountainguides

     50 cm deep, upside down. 10 cm 4 F-1F over F on a MFC. 1900 m SW Asp.   @SMG Image

      Cracks propagating a long distance. Depending on elev & asp on SH & density change as well.

           Sz 1-2  Sa Lower Disease Ridge, Solo. MIN Report below.                      charly17D21 Pic

      Avalanche mitigation on Blackcomb produced Sz 1-Sz 2 Xe Xl Xt Sc, Xc, Sy. Several Sa.

      Filled in fracture line on Low Test.

      Sz 2 Xe Crown in Ladies First. Storm Slab.

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler produced Sz 1- Sz 2- Xe, Xt, Xl, Sc, Xc, Sa.  Na observed. 

      Getting ready to place a shot.

      Sz 1 Results with Xe. (explosives)

      Xl above Franz's Meadow.

      Fracture line above Glacier Bowl.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Monday was at 08:09 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 20-30 KPH East wind at 1835 m.

      10:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 30-70 KPH East wind at 1860 m.

      Monday January 9, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH in an ESE wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs in the village. Mix of wet snow and rain.

      19:00 Hrs. 0 Deg C in the valley. Snowing.

Weather Observations for January 10, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -6, Winds were 35-45 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -5, Winds were 45-55 KPH E--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -4, Winds were   5-15 KPH SW--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -3, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters     -3, 15 cm in 12 Hrs, 16 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 194 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -3, 11 cm in 12 Hrs, 12 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 129 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2, 4.5 mm of precip yesterday.

      Board did not get flipped yesterday at 14:00 Hrs. 9.7 mm recorded. As of 06:00 Hrs 15 cm. Base 194

      As of 07:00 this am we have overcast skies and unlimited visibility. 

FORECAST:

Weak low and dirty ridge will bring a mostly overcast day in a Southerly flow aloft. The freezing level remains to hover around 1000 m. Chance of some breaks, dries out today. Wednesday is very similar with a dry am, may see some sunny breaks around noon with some snow flurries. Dries out in the pm, with a weak front arriving later in the pm with some light precipitation. Frontal band intensifies on Thursday with periods of moderate precipitation, a rising freezing level and strong winds. Depending on the model the FL will vary from 1600-2000 m. Sometimes difficult to determine. Going with 1800 m spike, time will tell. We will certainly be smelling pineapples. Several impulses of moderate precipitation for Friday as well. Fl may go up to 2000 m on Friday. The frontal band weakens slightly Saturday with light precipitation and above average temperatures. Weak trough for Sunday. Guesstimates: 0-trace cm by Wednesday am, 8-12 cm by Thursday am, 35-45 cm above 1800 m by Friday am, 25-35 cm above 1800 m by Saturday am, 12-16 cm above 1650 m by Sunday am.

      GOES IR Image from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI Image 2023/01/10. 05:00 Hrs.

      Weak low and dirty ridging will bring a dry overcast Tuesday. 

       Overcast skies today, some showers this am but dry for most of the day.

       Southerly flow aloft.

      Low off the coast, high in the interior will bring another mostly overcast day Wednesday.

      High and low will bring another overcast day on Wednesday. May see  a few breaks.

       Low will send a Pineapple Express our way Thursday. Wet, warm and windy.

      Atmospheric river event on Thursday. Moderate to heavy precipitation, elevated freezing level.

      Low continues to bring a Southerly flow with precipitation and warm temperatures, Friday.

      Atmospheric river event continues into Friday.

      More precipitation for Saturday

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      06:30 Hrs Monday. Moon light brightening the early morning view. 

      Some nice breaks in the early am.

      Spin drift on Ripsaw Monday am. Winds were 50-100 KPH at 2280 m.

       East winds were wicked!!!

      Spin Drift and Cloud on Fissile                                                                         Margy Krause Image

      Cornices are getting large on Lower Disease Ridge.

      Breaks to the North in the am.

      Front pushing in from the South around noon.

      The tensile strength of snow is quite amazing.

      15:30 Hrs. Dumping in the valley!!

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.

Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.

Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

SEA TO SKY ADVISORY AVAILABLE TOP RIGHT OF SIDE BAR!

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Blackcomb Disease Ridge: Jan 9, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Throwing bomb from Tram: Switzerland

Skiing into a: Slab Avalanche 

POV of snowboarder: Air Jordan

Drought: Europe

Cheap avalanche control: Switzerland

ARTICLES:

Nelson Police officer killed in avalanche, second officer critically injured: Kaslo

Man dies after avalanche on Mt Charleston: Nevada

Ski Tourer killed in Ubaye Avalanche: France

Avalanche nearly captures 3 Utah Skiers: Wellsville

Avalanche season in B.C. Forecast to be the most dangerous in decades: Avalanche Canada

Avalanche Awareness Days in B.C.: 2023

The complex relationship between climate change and the ski industry: CBC News

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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. 

January 9, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      Update on Pump House Lake, CO avalanche fatalities. Article below.              GCSO Image

      Avalanche control on Blackcomb produced Sz 1 storm slabs, Xe Sc. Minimal results.

     Sz 1 Sc wind pressed pockets of  storm slab. Pakalolo.
 

      Avalanche control on Whistler produced Sz 1 Sc. Storm slabs. Minimal activity.

      Sa Sz 2 Partial burial in the trees. 2023/01/08. Northern San Juan's. Click> CAIC Report

     Sz 2 Sa, partial burial, Idiot's Cornice, Loveland Pass Co. 2023/01/08. Click> CAIC Report

      Sc Sz 2 South Bowl, UT. 2023/01/08. Click>UAC Report.                            William Rouse Pic

      Sa Sz 1.5.  Buck Ridge, MT. 2023/01/07. Click> GNFAC Report                         GNFAC Pic

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunday sunrise was at 08:09 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH from the ESE at 1835 m.

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

     12:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 10-25 KPH ESE Wind at 1835 m.

     14:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

      16:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SSW wind at 1835 m. Snowing lightly.

Weather Observations for January 9, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -7, Winds were 35-50 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -7, Winds were 60-75 KPH ESE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -5, Winds were   5-15 KPH NE--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -4, Winds were 10-30 KPH NESE--Round House

1650 meters     -4, 15 cm in 12 Hrs, 17 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 186 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -4, 11 cm in 12 Hrs, 13 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 123 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.5, 6.5 mm of precip yesterday. 

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 15 cm of new snow, Base 185. 9.7 mm in the precip gauge.

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

FORECAST:

Drier this am with broken cloud, next frontal band arrives by around noon today in a Southerly flow aloft. Very short impulse with light precipitation ending before midnight. The freezing level is sitting around 1000 m and could rise to 1200 m. Dirty ridging for Tuesday with mostly overcast skies, am flurry possible with some pm sunny breaks. Dry again Wednesday with some am flurries, overcast with a frontal band arriving in the evening. Front intensifies into Thursday with wet, warm, windy weather. The intense low off the coast will continue to send weather our way into Friday with slightly less precipitation. Weaker impulse for Saturday with light precipitation. Continues into Sunday am with drier conditions expected by Sunday afternoon. Guesstimates: 5-10 cm by Tuesday am, trace-1 cm by Wednesday am, 8-12 cm by Thursday am, 30-40 cm above 1700 m by Friday am, 15-20 cm by Saturday am, 10-15 cm by Sunday am.

      GOES IR Image from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI Image 2023/01/09. 05:00 Hrs.

      Low off the coast will send a trough later this am. Slightly above average temperatures.

     Low will bring light precipitation this afternoon. Quick moving trough. Dissipates by Midnight.

      Southerly flow aloft.
 

      Dirty ridging Tuesday with overcast skies, cooling slightly. Some pm sunny breaks.

      Dirty ridging, mostly overcast. Chance of some flurries in between pm sunny breaks.

      Fairly massive low will not really affect the area Wednesday, unsettled weather. Warmish.

      Mostly dry Wednesday, some periods of light precipitation in the am. Next front arrives later pm.

      Low strengthens, wet, warm and windy on Thursday. 

      Pineapple express for Thursday, rising freezing levels with light to heavy precipitation.

     Front looses some intensity but still light to moderate precipitation on Friday.

      Looking good for the near future.

      Jet Stream is moving a bit further North next week.

      A ways out but we can only hope for more Pacific Snow Storms. Tuesday January 17, 2023.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Front approaching from the South. 08:15 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 35-55 KPH.

 

      Windy image from the same time frame as above.

      Sculptured Snow.

      Roof cornice development happens quickly.

      Snowing at 1860 m at 13:00 Hrs. 

      Middle of the Peak to Peak Gondola.

      Happy Snow Man, more snow on the way.

      Wind drifts are very cool.

      2 cm recorded at 1650 m as of 14:00 Hrs on Whistler. Base 178 cm.

     By the Umbrella Bar. Snowing lightly. 

      By Seppos Bar.

      It was an awesome day.

      Snowing in the valley at Dusk.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.

Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.

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

Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers. 

Sea to Sky Advisory available top right side bar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Basel Facets: Jan 8, 2023

Marriott Basin: Jan 8, 2023

Vantage: Jan 8, 2023

White out on Blackcomb: Jan 8, 2023

Garibaldi Lake Area: Jan 8, 2023

Sea 2 No Sky Gondola: Jan 8, 2023

Lower Body Bag Bowl: Jan 8, 2023

Whoop dee doo: Jan 8, 2023

S2S backcountry access conditions: Jan 8, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Good Time to Stop: Avalanche

Crazy Stunt: Almost Contact

Ghost Riding: Nice Pow

Some people are: Lucky

Snow Pack Evaluation & Terrain Choices, Bridger Range, MT: Jan 8, 2023

 ARTICLES:

The relationship between cooling and avalanches: Cooling Off

Forecaster warns over potential for severe avalanche season in B.C.: Avalanche Canada

Second victim recovered from avalanche near Pumphouse Lake, not wearing a transceiver: Colorado

Update on Swedish Man killed in avalanche, one injured: Norway

Two-Thirds of the worlds glaciers are on track to disappear by 2100, experts say: PBS 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.