January 27, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      McGill, Skier Triggered slab in the trees. Selkirks, Click>MIN Report.                     Sondre100 Pic

       No new avalanche activity on Whistler.

      No new avalanche activity on Blackcomb.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Thursday was at 07:54 Hrs. + 2 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

     10:00 Hrs. +4 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SW wind at 1835 m.

      Thursday January 26, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +4  Deg C with a 15-30 KPH SW wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. +3 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH SSW wind at 1860 m.

      18:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 25-35 KPH SSW wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for January 27, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -6, Winds were 45-65 KPH NNE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -5, Winds were 30-45 KPH N--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -3, Winds were 35-50 KPH NNE--Rendezvous  

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

1650 meters     -3, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 188 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -1, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 126 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.2, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

Will update ? ASAP!

 

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have a trace of new snow. 0.2 mm in precip gauge. Base 188 cm.

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

FORECAST:

Unsettled today with a mix of sun and cloud in a Northerly flow aloft. The FL is sitting around 1300 m and will slowly drop back down to surface by tonight. Cold arctic high pushes in for Saturday with some cloud in the am, sunny by the afternoon. Sunny and colder on Sunday. Unsettled with a mix of sun and cloud for Monday. Same for Tuesday with sunny weather in the pm. Weak front moves down the coast Wednesday with an increase in cloud. Frontal band arrives Thursday. Guesstimates: No precipitation until Wednesday night. Trace-2 cm by Thursday am, 8-12 cm by Friday am.

       GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI IMAGE 2023/01/27. 05:00 Hrs.

       Weak upper trough with Arctic air pushing onto the coast for Saturday. Still warmish.

      Dries out today with a mix of sun and cloud.

      Northerly flow aloft.

        Surface high with cold arctic air in the mix for Saturday. Cooler.

      Dry cold weather Saturday.

       High strengthens with colder temperatures Sunday.

      Dry and very cold for Sunday.

        High continues to dominate the pattern on Monday. Some cloud in the mix. Cold.

      Dry and cold. Afternoon cloud!

      Front pushes down the coast Tuesday with a mix of sun and cloud.

      Weak front with periods of light precipitation on Wednesday.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

       Nice light to the West, Pyroclastic and Cayley in the background.

      Mt Cayley to the Left.

      Nice light in the early pm.

      Cloud cover increased in the afternoon.

      Multiple Cloud layers mid pm.

      One of the Rendezvous Ravens

      Last of the sunlight, 15:45 Hrs.

      Descending into the mid mountain cloud layer at days end.

                                                 Aussi day in Booterville.

FROM SOUTH COAST TOURING:

Mitchell Sulkers--Decker Mountain

Out in the Spearhead doing obs the past two days with @extremelycanadian and the Whistler Section of the ACC.

The 10mm rime crust that formed above treeline on Tuesday afternoon is breaking down under warming alpine temps, but this morning it had extended to lower elevations creating a breakable crust above 2000m. Suspect this will facet back out if we get our Arctic Outflow event.

Near ridgecrests, sastrugi to 15cm affect skiability on windward aspects.

Polar aspects from 2200m down that held creamy snow yesterday now have the rime crust at the surface.

The good news is currently that the upper level snowpack from 2400m down to 1700m is definitely tightening up and known weaknesses like the buried 230113 crust and December 26th crust seem to be strenthening in the areas observed.

A test pit at 2368m NNE asp 37deg near Blackcomb Col on Wednesday showed a 389cm snow depth. Repeated hard compression tests (CTH 23) sudden planar occurred down 70cm on buried near surface facets (photo of the remaining column and block that slid included). The good news is that most of the 70cm over the weak layer was in the pencil range, that is, quite resistant and well-bonded to itself.

Shallow rocky areas remain a concern, and there are lots of voids on moraines with basal facets at ground.

Skiing Wednesday was fair to good depending on aspect. Today it was less wonderful, as the warmer air aloft was softening crusts to breakable and creating a marshmellow layer beneath...

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.

LOW--Sea to Sky Advisory available top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Round: Jan 26, 2023

Rainbow Summit: Jan 25, 2023

Spearhead Glacier-Vista-Decker Lake Tour: Jan 25, 2023

A mixed bag of mostly good skiing: Jan 25, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Lake Crossing: Snow Biking

Fast Turns: Aiguille du Midi

Drone Footage: Snowboarding

Chasing the Light: Nice Line

ARTICLES: 

Lengthy closures Friday for avalanche control through Rogers Pass: Avalanche Control Closures

Update on the avalanche that killed a snowmobiler 2023/01/21: Valemount

How researchers are using computers to improve avalanche warnings: Rocky Mountain Goat

Okanagan avalanches rare but deadly: Kelowna

Massive avalanche hits Himachal's Kinnaur District, 256 Roads blocked due to snowfall: Kashmir 

How climate change threatens to close ski areas: BBC End of Snow

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January 26, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

     Avalanche mitigation on Whistler Xc (cornice control) Sz 1 Sz 1.5 Some Na wet loose in the pm.

     No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb. Some snowballing later in the pm.

      Snowballing on solar aspects later Wednesday afternoon above Road Runner!.

      Rainbow South Chute, recent wet loose.

     Wet Loose.

      Old glide avalanche, old wet loose. We need some snow, not an Arctic Ridge.

      Old fracture line Upper Disease Ridge.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Wednesday was at 07:55 Hrs. +2 Deg C with a 25-35 KPH NNE wind at 1860 m.

      10:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 25-30 KPH NNE wind at 2280 m.

      Wednesday January 25, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +3 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH South wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. +5 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH North breeze at 1835 m.

     16:00 Hrs. +4 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH South breeze.

     18:00 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SSW wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for January 26, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters      0, Winds were 15-20 KPH W--Horstman Hut

2180 meters      0, Winds were 30-35 KPH WNW--Whistler Peak

1860 meters    +3, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE--Rendezvous  

1835 meters    +3, Winds were 20-30 KPH W--Round House

1650 meters    +1, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base  190 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters    +2, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base  127 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.6, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

      No new snow Thursday am, 06:00 Hrs. Base 190 cm.

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

FORECAST:

Increasing cloud as the ridge drifts West, weak front drifts down into the South Coast in a Northerly flow aloft. Cold front arrives tonight with periods of very light snow. The FL is hovering in the 2400 m range and should come down to around 1000 m by tonight with the arrival of the cold front. Weak impulse of moisture this evening dries out by early Friday am. Unsettled weather for Friday with a mix of sun and cloud. Remains on the warm side. Colder sunny weather for Saturday as the Arctic air pushes onto the coast. Sunday will see colder temperatures and sunny skies. Sunny with warmer temperatures on Monday. Weak front moves onto the coast Tuesday. Guesstimates: 1-4 cm by Friday am, 0 cm from Saturday into next Tuesday. 

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      GOES 17 ABI IMAGE 2023/01/26. 05:00 Hrs.

      Weak dirty upper ridge will shift West today allowing a weak cold front to slip by tonight.  Warm.

      Dry overcast day, increase in cloud as the day progresses. Weak cold front Thursday night.

      Northerly flow aloft.

       Arctic front pushing cold air onto the coast Friday. Cooler.

      Unsettled weather for Friday, mix of sun and cloud.

             Arctic outbreak on the coast with colder temperatures on Saturday.

      Cold clear weather for Saturday. Some cloud in the am, sunny skies in the pm.

        Cold and clear Sunday in a North Easterly flow aloft.

     Cold and dry Sunday.

      Cold on Sunday.

      Cold and sunny Monday.

      Low will send cloud our way Tuesday am, weak frontal band arrives Tuesday evening.

       INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Snow line is hovering around 800 m Wednesday am.

      Avalanche dog going for some exercise.

      Awesome morning.

      Surface Hoar enjoying the clear weather.

      Nice Light in the am.

      Still nice turns to be had on North Slopes..

      Upper Disease Ridge.

      Melting quickly +6 Deg C at 1860 m. 15:30 Hrs.

      Blackcomb Peak.

      Another special day.

     Snow Moon, Full-- Feb 5, 2023 <click for Info. 

      Air Time!

      T-Bar on Whistler.                                                                                            Margy Krause Image.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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

MODERATE--Sea to Sky Advisory top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

No new MIN Reports as of 07:00 Hrs.

SHORT CLIPS:

Big Air: Superman

Hitting the sweet spot: AvyBites

Powder Skiing: Japan

Easy on the gas: Ouch

No Covid here?: Ischgl

ARTICLES:

Exercise extreme caution in the backcountry: Avalanche Canada

Snow Avalanche blocks water flow to several villages in Baramulla: 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.