February 27, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      An avalanche has killed two backcountry skiers in Colorado. Articles Below.                   CAIC Pic

      An avalanche has killed a snowmobiler in Colorado. Articles below.                           CAIC Pic

      An avalanche has killed 3 people on a road in Tajikistan. Article below.                          Net Pic

       Avalanche mitigation on Whistler produced Sz 1-2. soft slabs. Na, Xe, Xt, Xl, Sc. Some Sz 1 Sa.

      Powder burns above Franz's Meadow. Xl (avalauncher).

     Avalanche mitigation on Blackcomb produced Sz 1 soft slabs. Na, Xt, Xl, Xe, Xc, Sc. 

      Sz 1 Na soft slab likely ran during the storm.

      Strachan Trees Sz 1 Sr (skier remote) MIN Report available below.               Laura Barreca Pic

      Storm slabs on Seymour. MIN report below.                                                          Brento Pic

            Hollyburn Pow. Storm slabs. MIN Report Below.                                     Richieso Pic

      Sz 1 Sa observed by AST 2 course, Brockton Point. NIN Report below.                  KJTW Pic

     WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Sunday was at 07:02 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH ESE wind at 1860 m. S1

      08:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m. S1

      10:00 Hrs. -7 Deg c with a 15-25 KPH South wind at 1860 m. S1

      Sunday February 26, 2023. 12:00 Hrs.-10 Deg C with a 25-55 KPH SW wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 45-60 KPH SSW wind at 1860 m.

      18:00 Hrs. -14 Deg C with a 20-30 KPH South wind at 2280 m.

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

2280 meters     -16, Winds were 10-15 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -13, Winds were 20-35 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -14, Winds were   5-10 KPH ENE --Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -13, Winds were 10-20 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters     -13, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 4 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 232 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -12, trace in 12 Hrs, 6 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 165 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters       -7, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +1.1, 17.1 mm of precip yesterday.

       As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 2 cm of new snow. Base  232 cm.

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

FORECAST:

A weak upper low to our South will bring a mix of sun and cloud this am transitioning to overcast skies and afternoon flurries in a Southerly flow aloft. The FL is below surface and may rise to around surface this pm, dropping back down again tonight. The cool unsettled pattern continues into Tuesday with mostly overcast skies and light snow during daylight hours. Dries out Tuesday night before weak upper ridging brings a dry Wednesday with some sunny breaks. A frontal band arrives Wednesday night with snow to the valley through Thursday. Lingering trough will bring light snow for Friday. Cold upper trough will bring another frontal band for Saturday, dries out Sunday with flurries and overcast skies. Guesstimates: trace-2 cm by Tuesday am, 1-3 cm by Wednesday am, 5-10 cm by Thursday am, 4-6 cm by Friday am, 2-6 cm by Saturday am, 2-6 cm by Sunday am. 

       GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

       WINDY IMAGE 2023/02/27. 05:00 Hrs.

       Low to the South will bring overcast skies, weak impulse of flurries this pm. Cold.

      Dry and overcast in the am, flurries this afternoon around 16:00 Hrs.

      Southerly flow aloft.

       Low will send periods of light snow with overcast skies for Tuesday. Below average temps.

     Flurries on Tuesday.

    Weak upper level ridge with cloud still overriding ridge with overcast skies. Seasonable temps.

       Dry Wednesday with a frontal band arriving around 22:00 Hrs.

       Frontal band for Thursday with light snow, seasonable temps.

      Light snow to the valley Thursday.

      Light snow Friday.

      Light snow Saturday.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      08:00 Upload. 25 cm rule in effect. 

      The initial upload line ups were very busy! Down the promenade, around and down Blackcomb Way!

       There was much more than 25 cm in the valley.

      Early birds got the goods.

     Knee deep powder below 1000 m to the valley!

      11:30 Hrs. Winds were transporting snow with 30-60 KPH SSW winds. Passage of the front.

      Unsettled with a dirty ridge building at 11:30 Hrs. Sun & Powder, how good was that!!

      Oboe with no tracks.

      Looks like air off a cornice feature onto wind loaded slope below. Solo!

     Wind blown snow, quickly produces cornices.

      There were aspects with sastrugi.

      Nice light later in the pm.

      As of 14:00 Hrs 2023/02/26 at 1570 m 6 cm of new snow, base 170 cm.

      Broken cloud as of 16:45 Hrs Sunday.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Give the new snow several days to settle and stabilize before pushing into bigger terrain.

Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.

Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.

Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Hanging Lake: Feb 26, 2023

Knee Deep Mulligan: Feb 26, 2023

AST2-Brockton Point: Feb 26, 2023

Hollyburn Pow: Feb 26, 2023

Strachan Trees: Feb 26, 2023

Touchy and widespread avalanches: Feb 26, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Cranking Turns: Edge Control

Riding out a: Roof Avalanche

Sliding through the Trees: Bad Idea

Awesome Back Flip: Drone Footage

ARTICLES:

Two ski tourers have been killed in an avalanche near Vallecito: Colorado

CAIC Initial Report on above incident: Colorado

2 Killed, 1 injured, and 1 missing after avalanches over the weekend: Colorado

CAIC Initial Report on Snowmobiler missing after avalanche near La Manga Pass: Colorado

3 People die in an avalanche on Chanak Road: Tajikistan

Backcountry ski accidents on the rise amid influx of overseas visitors: Japan

Avalanche Forecasters take big risks to keep others safe in the backcountry: Montana

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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 26, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

       A sledder has died in an avalanche in Poker Creek, WY. Article Below.  2023/02/23   BTAC Image 

      An avalanche has killed a snowmobiler in poker Creek, WY. Article and video below. BTAC Image

       Avalanche victims rescued by long line on Snow King, WY. Article below.          Teton County SAR Pic

      An avalanche has killed 4 people in Northern Afghanistan. Article below.                  Net Pic

     Na Car Avalanche cycle in East Vancouver. Wow that will cause some issues! Guy Patterson Pic.

      No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Saturday was at 07:04 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 15-20 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.

      08:00 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH South wind at 1835 m. S-1 

      10:00 Hrs.-8 Deg C with a 5-25 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m. S-1

      Saturday February 25, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH SW wind at 1835 m. S-1

     14:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 35-45 KPH SE wind at 2180 m.

      16:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m. S-1

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

2280 meters     -12, Winds were 40-50 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -11, Winds were 40-45 KPH ESE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -10, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE --Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -10, Winds were 15-25 KPH ESE--Round House

1650 meters       -9, 24 cm in 12 Hrs, 26 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 235 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters       -9, 21 cm in 12 Hrs, 23 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 165 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters       -6, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was -3.9, 14.0 mm of precip yesterday.

       As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 24 cm of new snow. 17.2 mm in precip gauge. Base 235 cm.

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

FORECAST:

A weak upper trough will bring unsettled weather for today in a Westerly flow aloft. Light snowfall this am will transition into a mix of sun and cloud with flurries for the afternoon. Low on Monday and associated weak upper trough will bring unsettled weather with flurries. Mostly overcast with a chance of some sunny breaks. Tuesday will be a bit drier and off shore high will help with another unsettled day with a mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Wednesday is looking like the driest day of the week with dirty ridging with the next low and associated frontal band working its way down the coast for an arrival Wednesday night. Thursday will see an active frontal band with seasonable temperatures and snow to the valley. Looking mostly overcast for Friday with a weak impulse of snow in the pm. More on that as we get closer. Guesstimates: 1-4 cm by Monday am, 1-4 cm by Tuesday am, 0-trace by Wednesday am, 4-8 cm by Thursday am, 4-8 cm by Friday am, 4-8 cm by Saturday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/02/26. 05:00 Hrs.

       Weakening trough transitions to unsettled weather with a weak upper trough. Cool temps.

      Periods of light snow fall for Sunday. 

      Westerly flow aloft.

      Weak upper trough with below average temperatures on Monday. Low sends cloud.

      Periods of light snowfall in the early am. Unsettled with sunny breaks in the pm. Flurries in the pm.

       Low shifts East, below average temperatures Tuesday. Unsettled. Sunny breaks and flurries.

      Unsettled Tuesday, flurries in a mixed bag of weather.

              Unsettled Wednesday with a mix of sun and cloud. Seasonable temperatures.

      Some late pm flurries, next frontal band arrives Wednesday night. 

       Active frontal band with light snowfall on Thursday.

      Frontal band on Friday with light snowfall to the valley. Seasonable temperatures.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Snowing very lightly at 660 m 10:00 Hrs.

      Snowing lightly in the valley. All Lifts All Zones.

      Will be nice to see the valley trees white again.

     Challenging visibility on the upper P2V course at 11:10 Hrs.

       New snow made for a skate on the Reservoir Flats in the P2V race Saturday am.

      Snowing lightly in the am.

      20-35 KPH South winds at 1860 m Saturday around noon.

      Snowing just less than 1 cm per hour at 15:00 Hrs.

     Great snow conditions Saturday afternoon. 15:30 Hrs.

      Image from same time line as above image. Looking good so far. Should slide South!

     At 14:00 Hrs 2023/02/25 we had 2 cm of new snow, base 146 cm.

      16:15 Hrs. Snowing 2 cm per hour. S+2. 

      Snowing S+2 in the valley.

       Recent profile.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Good day to make conservative terrain choices.

Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 30 cm of new snow.

Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.

Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.

Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

HIGH--SEA TO SKY BULLETIN available top right sidebar.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Hazy Boy:Feb 25, 2023

  

Shannon Basin: Feb 25, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Skier caught in an avalanche: Montana

Maybe its not as cold as it looks: No Wipeouts

Pow Turns: Snow Bike

Quick Turn-Over: SKIMO

Message from Elbrus: Stay on Piste

ARTICLES:

An avalanche has killed a sledder at Greys River: Wyoming

Video on avalanche fatality at Poker Creek: Wyoming

Avalanche victims rescued with long line at Snow King: Wyoming

An avalanche has killed four people in Tak Archa Village: North Afghanistan

Body of 1 victim from Colchuck Peak avalanche recovered: Washington State

Keeping it simple with a complicated snowpack: Avalanche Canada

People asked to not travel to Waterton Lakes National Park amid avalanche risk: CBC News

The Basics of Avalanches and Avalanche Rescue: Exped Review

Sea to Sky Snow Conditions-Feb 24, 2023: Zenith Guides

Worst winter in living memory: Pistehors

      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 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.