Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog

8 Mar 2023

March 8, 2023

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

An avalanche has killed 2 ski tourers, injured 7 in Turkey. 2023/03/04. Article below. Photo AA.

Sled boarder falls off cornice on sled. Partially Buried and injured. TCSAR Pic

Buried sled, sledder rescued by helicopter. Click> Instagram Post TCSAR Pic

Minimal control work on Blackcomb. Xc Bushrat Cornice. sZ 1.5. No slab.

Xl (avalanchure) used in Opal Bowl Tuesday am. Sz 1

No new avalanches observed on Whistler. Some Sz 1 Sc. Wind Slabs SE loading

WEATHER YESTERDAY:

Sunrise Tuesday was at 06:43 Hrs. -9 Deg c with a 5-10 KPH SE breeze at 1860 m.

08:00 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SE wind at 1835 m.

10:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

Tuesday March 7, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 10-20 ESE wind at 1835 m. S-1

14:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH SW wind at 1860 m. S-1

16:00 Hrs. -4 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH SW Wind at 1860 M. S-1

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

2280 meters -11, Winds were 35-55 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -10, Winds were 50-70 KPH ESE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters -9, Winds were 5-10 KPH SSW --Rendezvous

1835 meters -10, Winds were 5-15 KPH NE--Round House

1650 meters -9, 5 cm in 12 Hrs, 6 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 235 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters -7, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 1 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 158 cm--Catskinner

660 meters -4, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.7, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

As of 06:00 Hrs we have 5 cm of new snow. 2.4 mm in precip gauge. Base 235 cm.

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

FORECAST:

Dirty ridging for today with a mix of sun and cloud in a Southerly flow aloft. The weak broad upper cold trough is well off the coast allowing for a dry mix of sun and cloud. Should see an increase in cloud later tihs pm. Very slight chance of an isolated flurry today. The FL is below surface at this time and will likely go to 1000+ m with daytime heating, dropping back below surface tonight. Mix of sun and cloud Thursday am, with an increase in cloud cover in the pm. Another dry day! Next low from the North will bring an impulse of snow Friday am, drying out in the pm with overcast skies. Another weak frontal band Saturday with unsettled weather and some snow flurries. A more vigorous frontal band arrives Sunday pm with strong winds and light/moderate precipitation. A pineapple express to our South will allow the FL to start creeping up late Saturday into Sunday. As of now looks wet, warm and windy for Monday. More on that as we get closer. Guesstimates: 0-trace by Thursday am, 0 cm by Friday am, trace-3 cm by Saturday am, 1-4 cm by Sunday am, 12-18 cm by Monday am, 30-40 cm above 1800 m by Tuesday am.

GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

WINDY IMAGE 2023/03/08. 05:00 Hrs.

The big picture.

Low well off the coast, mix of sun and cloud for Wednesday. Cool.

Dry day Wednesday, dirty ridging with a mix of sun and cloud.

Southerly flow aloft.

Low shifts south on Thursday, unsettled weather. Seasonable temps.

Low well to the South, another dry day Thursday. morning sunny periods, overcast in the pm.

Low moves over the area with some light precipitation on Friday. Cool.

Low to the South will send a weak impulse of snow Friday am, dries out in the pm.

Weak trough for Saturday. Cool.

Low moves down the coast Saturday with periods of light snow.

Low will send a frontal band our way Sunday. Light/moderate snow.

Warm frontal band on Monday. Light/moderate precipitation.

Atmospheric river to our South will bring wet warm windy weather Monday.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

08:00 Hrs

There were some breaks in the am.

Snowing at noon at 1860 m.

Peak to Peak Lift line.

Tracks down to Singing Pass Trail.

Great snow conditions.

Dress up day.

Adding layers daily.

Snowing 1.5 cm per hour at 16:30 Hrs.

Snowing to the valley.

Patches of blue with cloud dissipating at 17:15 Hrs.

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.

Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.

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

MODERATE--SEA TO SKY ADVISORY available top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

CAA Level 2 Assessment Field Trip: March 7, 2023

Raaawr: March 7, 2023

Sloughing on Slalok: March 7, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

The hills are traumatized by the sound of: Quentin

Big Air: Jackson Hole

Nice snow: Silverton

Skinning in soft snow: Kick Turn Tip

Hyalite Peak Avalanche Investigation: MTAvalanche

ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed 2, injured 7 in Artvin: Turkey (google translate)

Backcountry skier rescued from avalanche recovering in hospital: Montana

Closing the backcountry in response to avalanche deaths an 'impracticable position': ACMG

Using and understanding the "Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale': ATES

HWY 18 in San Bernardino Mountains inspected fro avalanche threat: California

Canadian Avalanche Association Spring Conference: May 2-4, 2023

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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.

7 Mar 2023

March 7, 2023

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

Avalanches buried 2 people near Pemberton 2023/03/04. Article below. Click>Twitter AC Pic

50 slides in 48 Hrs in Central Idaho. Article Below. Sawtooth Avalanche Center Pic

No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb.

No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

Avalanche deflector berm on Symphony Chair.

An atmospheric river 'aka Pineapple Express' heading to California this weekend. Article V.

WEATHER YESTERDAY:

Sunrise was at 06:45 Hrs Monday. -9 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

08:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 25-35 Kph SE wind at 2280.

10:00 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 25-30 KPH SE wind at 2280 m. S-1

Monday March 6, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

14:00 Hrs. -7 Deg C with a 30-45 KPH SE wing at 2180 m. Isolated flurries.

16:00 Hrs. -7 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH NNW breeze at 1860 m. S-1

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

2280 meters -11, Winds were 20-35 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -10, Winds were 35-40 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters -10, Winds were 5-15 KPH SE --Rendezvous

1835 meters -8, Winds were 10-15 KPH ESE--Round House

1650 meters -9, 3 cm in 12 Hrs, 3 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 234 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters -8, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 159 cm--Catskinner

660 meters -4, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.9, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

As of 06:00 Hrs there is 3 cm, 1 mm in precip gauge. Base 234 cm.

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

FORECAST:

Cool broad upper level trough will bring overcast weather this am in a Southerly flow aloft. The FL is currently below surface, rising to 900 m this pm, dropping back down below surface tonight. Mostly overcast this pm with convective flurries starting around noon, dissipating later this pm with some sunny breaks. Unsettled Wednesday with a mix of sun and cloud. Dry and mostly overcast on Thursday. weak frontal band arrives Friday with periods of light snow to the valley. Ditto for Saturday. Sunday will start with some sunny breaks with a strong frontal band arriving later in the am. The storm discussed earlier this weak has been delayed and will arrive Sunday afternoon ramping up to a strong Pacific storm into Monday. Guesstimates: Trace-4 cm by Wednesday am, 0-trace by Thursday am, trace-1 cm by Friday am, 1-4 cm by Saturday am, 1-4 cm by Sunday am, 25-35 cm by Monday am. Looking juicier early next week.

GOES IR IMAGE from this am.