March 12, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

     Fifth heli-skier triggered fatal avalanche near Panorama 2023/03/01. Article Below.     RK Heli Pic

      Avalanche control on Blackcomb produced some Sz 1 dry loose Xl in Lakeside. 

      Cornice tabs dropping onto slope.

      Cornice tabs dropping onto roof.

     No new avalanches on Whistler Sc loose dry sluffs. 

      Cornice control Horseshoe 7. Xc  Large chunks in the bowl.

      Sz 1.5 Na Tszil, Pemberton.  MIN Report below.                                             Banderson Pic

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Saturday was at 06:35 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SSE wind at 1860 m.

      08:00 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 10-15 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m.

       10:00 Hrs. -5 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SSW wind at 1860 m.  S-1

     Saturday March 11, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH SE wind at 1835 m. S-1

      14:00 Hrs. -3 Deg C with a 10-25 KPH South wind at 1860 m.

      16:00 Hrs. -4 Deg c with a 10-20 KPH SSW wind at 1860 m.

Weather Observations for March 12, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters   -10, Winds were 35-45 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -9, Winds were 55-80 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -7, Winds were 10-25 KPH SE --Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -7, Winds were 15-30 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters     -5, 8 cm in 12 Hrs, 13 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 237 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -5, 7 cm in 12 Hrs, 9 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 161 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +4.1, 0.3 mm of precip yesterday.

      As of 06:00 Hrs we have 8 cm of new snow. 3.2 mm in precip gauge. Base 237 cm. 

      As of 07:00 Hrs we have broken cloud, variable visbility and snowing lightly.

FORECAST:

Unsettled this am with increase in cloud cover with main frontal band arriving this afternoon in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The FL is presently just below surface and hopefully will not climb above 1500 meters tonight. May go higher briefly, time will tell. Drops back down below surface Monday evening. Light precipitation begins this am with winds ramping up and moderate precipitation by early Monday am. Front pushes through quickly with unsettled weather in its wake. Mix of sun and cloud by Monday afternoon with flurries. Weak upper trough for Tuesday with a mostly overcast day, some morning sunny breaks. Flurries Tuesday night. Dirty ridge for Wednesday with a mix of sun and cloud. Overcast Thursday with a dry day with clouds pushing in. Ridge strengthens Friday with sunny skies and above average temperatures. Weak short wave trough for Saturday with some flurries. Guesstimates: 15-20 cm by Monday am, 1-3 cm by Tuesday am, trace-1 cm by Wednesday am, 0-trace by Thursday am, 0 cm by Friday am, 0 cm by Saturday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/03/12. 05:00 Hrs.

        Low to the North, pineapple express to the South. Windy and warmer by tonight. 

      Dry in the am on Sunday, frontal band arrives around 13:00 Hrs this pm. Light/moderate precipitation.

      Southwesterly flow aloft.

       Front pushes through early Monday am with a mix of sun and cloud with flurries in the pm.

      Moderate precipitation in the am Monday, flurries in the pm.

        Mostly overcast Tuesday with some sunny breaks and pm flurries. Cooler.

      Dry with some flurries Tuesday night.

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

      No precipitation expected on Wednesday.

      No precipitation Thursday, may see a mostly cloudy day. More on that as we get closer.

      Ridge strengthens Friday with sunny skies. 

     INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      08:00 Hrs. some patches of blue but impulse of snow is pushing in.

      Overcast with flat light 09:15 Hrs.

      Power Flurry for about 30 min.

      Powder to the People!

      Wind direction sensor on Spacer 11 P 2 P.

      Power flurries to patches of blue in minutes.

     Sunny break 13:30 Hrs.

     Stellar Conglomerates

      Mid mountain cloud layer lifting. 14:30 Hrs.

      Thick mid mountain cloud in the afternoon.

      16:30 hrs, mid level cloud was shifting around. Up and down, back and forth.

      Recent Profile.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Oboe: March 11, 2023

Jet Wilson: March 11, 2023

Tszil Na Wind Slab: March 11, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Snow Cross in Germany: Mtn Biking

One way of mitigating a: Roof Avalanche

Slope test: Ripper

Synchronized: Skiing

MSA Mountain Conditions Report: March 11, 2023

ARTICLES:

Three people injured in an avalanche, SAR teams could not fly: Slovakia

Fifth skier triggered fatal slide near Invermere March 1, 2023: Avalanche Canada Report

Rare avalanche death highlights dangers as skiers venture into Uintas: Utah

Wet,Wet,Wet: Alpine Meadows

Mountain Conditions Report -Duffy Lake: March 10, 2023

All of Lake Tahoe at risk of 'wide spread avalanche activity': California

Avalanches damage homes, prompt flood concerns in Hailey: Idaho

Some awesome facebook posts from: Avalanche Canada

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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. 

March 11, 2023

       AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      Two snowshoers injured in an avalanche in Austria. 9 involved.  Article below.                      Net Pic.

      Loose dry sloughing 2023/03/09. Nice looking skiing Conditions.               Phantom Heli Pic

      No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

      No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb.

      Old Fx lines from Sa Sz 1 on Triplex from Thu. 3 guests hiking into permanent closure. GD Pic

      How much weight can your roof/deck support?? Big problem in Tahoe! Mathematics<Click!!

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

       Sunrise Friday was at 06:37 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH South breeze.

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

     10:00 Hrs. -7 deg C with a 10-20 KPH SE  wind at 1860 m.   S-1

      From same time frame as above image. Flurries at 1860 m.

      Friday March 10, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH variable breeze at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 0-5 North breeze at 1860 m.

      18:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C With A 5-10 KPH ESE wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for March 11, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters   -10, Winds were 35-45 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -9, Winds were 40-55 KPH SE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -8, Winds were 10-25 KPH SE --Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -8, Winds were   5-20 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters     -7, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 224 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -6, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 155 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters     -1, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +6.0, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

       As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 2 cm of new snow. 0.7 mm in precip gauge. Base 224 cm.

       As of 07:00 Hrs we have a few breaks in the cloud with unlimited visibility and snowing very lightly.

FORECAST:

A weak upper trough will bring periods of light snow today in a Westerly flow aloft. Some sunny breaks early this am becoming cloudier. Periods of light snow should start soon, mix of sun and cloud this pm with flurries in the mix. Dries out tonight. The FL is just below surface and will rise to around 1000 m this afternoon, dropping back below surface tonight. Sunday will see a few am flurries with a frontal band arriving in the pm with light snowfall. Will be warmer than it has been. Will talk about the FL tomorrow. Frontal band continues into Monday am with light/moderate precipitation with strong winds. Dries out around noon on Monday with a mix of sun, cloud, and flurries. Dries out later in the pm with cooler temperatures. Unsettled Tuesday with weak dirty ridging. Ditto for Wednesday with some flurries in the mix. Ridge strengthens for Thursday with mostly sunny skies and dry weather. Guesstimates: 1-4 cm by Sunday am, 12-16 cm by Monday am, 2-5 cm by Tuesday am, trace-1 cm by Wednesday am, 1-2 cm by Thursday am, 2-5 cm by Friday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/03/11. 05:00 Hrs.

       Low off the coast will send a weak trough with a quick impulse of snow. Seasonable temps.

      Periods of light snowfall on Saturday.

      Westerly flow aloft.

       Low well to the North, atmospheric river to the South. Warmer.

Flurries Sunday am, light precipitation in the pm continues into Monday am.

       Upper trough brings strong winds and light precipitation into Monday pm. Unsettled in pm.

     Light precipitation in the am. Unsettled Monday pm with mix of sun, cloud, flurries.

       Weak broad upper trough will bring an unsettled day on Tuesday. Cooler.

      Mix of sun and cloud for Tuesday with some isolated flurries. 

      Dirty ridging Wednesday with some isolated flurries.

      Ridge strengthens with mostly sunny skies on Thursday. Warms up.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Roof avalanches may happen with the next storm.  Amazing tensile strength in ice and snow.

      Snow flurries 10:30 Hrs at 1835 m.

      Wind affected snow below Horstman Glacier.                                                  GD Pic

     Thin Cornice Tabs

      Moments of nice light amongst the cloud.

     Some sculpted Sastrugi <Click for explanation with Stellar Plates, <Click if you want to know.

      Airtime!

      Isolated flurries ended around noon. Many stellar plates falling. More flurries in the pm.

      Glimpses of sun in the afternoon.

     Some awesome late afternoon light.

      Flurries at closing time. Very cool roof cornices. Growing by the day!

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Blackcomb Backcountry: March 09, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

North Shore Avalanche Conditions: March 10, 2023

Buddy system works: Could save your life

Keeping the tracks clean: Cool Perspective

Slam Bam: No Thank You Man

Bad Jump: Ouch

ARTICLES:

Snowshoers hit by avalanche, 2 sustaining injuries near Salzburg: Austria

Sugarloaf skier rescued from rare East Coast tree well: Maine

Sea to Sky Snow Conditions-March 10, 2023: Zenith Mountain Guides

'Pineapple Express' winter storm pummels: California

Provo Canyon closed due to massive avalanche during mitigation efforts: Utah

Accident Summary-1 Fatality in Utah, 2023/03/09: Upper Webber canyon

      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.