February 6, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      11 people have died in avalanches over the weekend in AT, CH, IT.  Article below.
 

           Snowplough driver killed in Austrian Avalanche. Article below.                LPD Tyrol

      Many avalanche incidents over the weekend in the Alps.

       Russet Ridge Sz 1 Skier Accidental Sa, Wind Slab-MIN Report below.  Jan 5 Garethmthomas1 Pic             

      Avalanche Mitigation on Whistler Sunday-Xe Xc Sz 1-2. Some Sz 2 Xc.

      Xe Powder Burn Twr 9 Peak Chair 

      Avalanche mitigation on Blackcomb--Cornice Test- Xc Sz 2 Cornice debris. No slab.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

       Sunrise 07:40 Hrs Sunday. -4 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

      10:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH SW wind at 1835 m.

      Sunday February 5, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -2 Deg C wit a 15-30 PKH SW wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SSW wind at 1860 m.

      20:00 Hrs. -7 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH West Breeze at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for February 6, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -6, Winds were 65-85 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -6, Winds were 50-70 KPH SSW--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -3, Winds were 20-40 KPH S--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -3, Winds were 15-40 KPH SSW--Round House

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

1570 meters     -3, trace in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs. Base 127 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters    +2, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +4.6, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday. 

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have a trace of new snow. Base  195 cm. 0.2 mm in precip gauge.

     As 0f 07:00 hrs we have mostly overcast skies, variable visibility and snowing very lightly on Whistler.

FORECAST:

A pineapple express is heading our way Monday am in a Northwesterly flow aloft. The FL is at around 1200 m and hopefully tops out at 1400 m, might go a bit higher. Cools down Tuesday with it hovering in the 1000 m range slowly dropping to surface by Tuesday night. For today we can expect strong winds and light/moderate precipitation. More of the same for Tuesday. Dries out Wednesday with a dirty ridge bringing unsettled weather. The models are not in agreement for Thursday into the weekend. Siding with the ECMWF and hope to see more snow Thursday and Friday. Dries our Saturday. More on later in the week in tomorrows post. Guesstimates: 20-25 cm by Tuesday am, 12-18 cm by Wednesday am, trace-1 cm by Thursday am, 10-15 cm by Friday am, 8-14 cm by Saturday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/02/06. 05:00 Hrs.

       Upper cold front for Monday with an atmospheric river event. Strong winds. Warmish.

       Smelling pineapples. Light/moderate precipitation.

      Northwesterly flow aloft.

       Cold upper trough for Tuesday. Low bringing in some cold air from the North. 

      Periods of light/moderate precipitation Tuesday.

         Dirty ridging for Wednesday. Cool temperatures. Mix of sun and cloud.

       Possible isolated flurries for Wednesday. Looks pretty dry.

      Periods of light precipitation on Thursday.

      Periods of light precipitation on Friday.

     As of Monday, looking dry on Saturday with some ridging. Time will tell.

      European Model has more winter weather coming next week. 

      Cooler next week.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      08:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 45-65 KPH ESE wind at 2280 m. A few breaks in the cloud.

      Snowing lightly at 11:30 Hrs.

      Nice snow on the Curl.

      Sluff off the Curl.

      Spanky's was busy!!

      AST 1 Course in Ziggy's Meadow.

     High cloud, Mid Mountain cloud, Valley cloud. A cloudy pm.

      Whistler Peak! Careful of all the debris after it snows.

      Whiteout conditions on Whistler Peak in the pm.

      Sunday at 14:15 Hrs.

      Trace of new snow recorded Sunday since 06:00 Hrs. Base 196 cm at 1650 m.

      Great late pm light.

      Prepping for the Fire & Ice Show.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA: 

Travel and Terrain Advice

Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.

As the storm slab problem gets trickier, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.

Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.

CONSIDERABLE--SEA TO SKY ADVISORY TOP RIGHT SIDEBAR.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Russet Ridge: Jan 5, 2023

Musical Bumps: Jan 5, 2023

Rainbow Conditions: Jan 5, 2023

Mount Sproatt: Jan 5, 2023

Wet Snow to the top of snow-(North Shore): Jan 5, 2023

Heavy Pow + Wind Slab-(Squamish): Jan 5, 2023

Tetrahedron: Feb 5, 2023

Stadium Glacier: Jan 5, 2023

Pump Peak Laps: Feb 5, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Yard sale: Ouch

Steep Narrow Turns: X3

Cheap Powder Skis: OSB

So Fast: Left the sluff in the dust

ARTICLES:

Weekend Avalanches kill 11 in Austria, Switzerland and Italy: SwissInfo

Snowplough driver dies in an avalanche in Austria. Stubenweg

Avalanches kill two in Switzerland: TheLocal

Avalanche kills two highway workers in Lahaul: Kashmir

Numerous avalanches involving people: Austria

Acting at One's own risk puts other lives in danger: Japan

Two ski patrollers spend the night with avalanche survivor in Alberta: Castle Mountain

 

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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 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. 

February 5, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY: 

      Eight people have died in avalanches in the past 36 Hrs. AUT SWI. Article below. APA Image

      A ski tourer has died in an avalanche in Italy. Article below.                        Alto Adige Image

      Two people killed, three injured after avalanche hits village in Afghanistan. Article below.

     Sz 1 Sc Hanging Lake 2023/02/04. Click> MIN REPORT                                           

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler produced Sz 1-Sz 2 Xe, Xc, Xl.

      Xl (avalauncher rounds) Upper Franz's Run. 

      Avalanche mitigation on Blackcomb produced mostly Sz 1 Xe, Xl. Some Sz 1.5, 1 Sz 2 Xl.

      Sz 1 Xe Diamond Centre

      Sz 1 Debris Xe Low Test.

     Dry loose solar aspect 1200 m.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise was at 07:42 Hrs Saturday. -3 Deg C with a 20-35 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

     10:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 10-30 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

      Saturday February 4, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 15-35 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. 0 Deg C with a 10-35 KPH SSW wind at 1860 m.

      16:00 Hrs. -1 Deg C with a 15-35 KPH SSW wind at 1860 m.

Weather Observations for February 5, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -6, Winds were 20-30 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -5, Winds were 20-25 KPH SSW--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -3, Winds were 10-15 KPH ESE--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -3 , Winds were 10-15 KPH S--Round House

1650 meters     -3, 3 cm in 12 Hrs, 4 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 196 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -2, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 130 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters    +1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +4, 1.7 mm of precip yesterday.

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 3 cm of new snow. 1.6 mm in precip gauge. Base  196 cm.

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

FORECAST:

A very weak upper trough pushes through this am in a Southerly flow aloft. Quick dirty ridge this pm will bring a drying trend into Monday am in a Northerly flow aloft. Some sunny breaks. The FL is around 1200 m and should come down to 1000 m by tonight. Early Monday am a vigorous warm front arrives with strong winds and light/moderate precipitation, trailing cold front will bring snow line down to the valley. Storm continues into Tuesday with light/moderate precipitation. Flurries and dry weather by Tuesday night. Weak dirty ridge for Wednesday with a mix of sun, cloud and some isolated flurries. Mostly overcast!! Unsettled Thursday as well with some flurries. Another frontal band arrives later on Friday am with periods of light/moderate precipitation. Dries out Saturday with mostly sunny skies. Unsettled Sunday. Guesstimates: 1-3 cm by Monday am, 30-40 cm by Tuesday am, 20-30 cm by Wednesday am, trace-1 cm by Thursday am, 1-2 cm by Friday am, 8-12 cm by Saturday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/02/05. 05:00 Hrs.

      A weak upper trough pushes through Sunday am, weak dirty ridging in its wake. Warmish.

      Some isolated showers this am, drying trend with mostly overcast skies Sunday pm.

     Southerly flow aloft.

       Massive Aleutian Low will send a warm front Monday am, with a trailing cold front.

      Pineapple Express with light/moderate precipitation.

       Flow continues into Tuesday with cooler temperatures.

      Light/moderate precipitation Tuesday. 

       Weak dirty ridging Wednesday with a mix of sun and cloud. Cooler. Seasonable temps.

       Dirty ridging Wednesday, drys out with some isolated morning flurries.

      Unsettled Thursday with dirty ridging and some flurries.

      Frontal band arrives Friday with light precipitation. Just above average temperatures.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

     The New Whistler Weekend Activity--Waiting!!! Line up went into the Village Plaza.

      Peak Chair was open by 10:20 Hrs.

      10:30 Hrs. Whistler Sign Board.

      Sunny breaks around noon.

      Ski Touring Body Bag Bowl.

      There were many bodies at the Seventh Heaven Lift. Maybe the biggest yet!!

      Flurries at 14:30 Hrs.

     Long Line Rescue out of the Chuting Gallery.

      Staging out of the Chocolate Factory.

      By 14:00 Hrs Saturday we received 1 cm of new snow, Base 198 cm at 1650 m.

      By 14:00 hrs Saturday we received 1 cm of new snow, Base 131 cm at 1570 m.

      Snowing lightly at 16:30 Hrs.

      Raining in the valley at 16:45 Hrs.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA: 

Travel and Terrain Advice

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

Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Hanging Lake: Feb 4, 2023

Hanging Lake Trees: Feb 4, 2023

Squamish is Hot Garbage: Feb 4, 2023

Paul Ridge: Feb 4, 2023

Lazy Boy: Feb 4, 2023

Jan 4, 2023: Feb 4, 2023

Heavy and Wet: Feb 4, 2023

AST Course: Feb 4, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Getting out of the: Sluff

Landing on a road while skiing: Having a bad day

Casual flight through: Town

Deep Pow: Hokkaido

ARTICLES: 

Eight dead in weekend avalanches:Austria/Switzerland

Another article on the multiple avalanche deaths; Austria/Switzerland

Avalanche claims 2 lives in Graubunden Mountains: Switzerland (google translate)

Two dead after avalanches: Austria (google translate)

One dead after avalanche in Kleinwalserstal: Austria (may need to translate)

Fatal avalanche on the Limojoch: Italy

Avalanche kills 2, injures 3: Afghanistan

      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.