March 1, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      A rare sighting of an avalanche on Mount San Jacinto, California. Article below. Joyce Schwartz Pic

      Sz 1.5 Marriott Lake 2023/02/27.                                                                  Jack McDonald Image

      Sz 1 Sc Holyburn 2023/02/28. MIN Report below.                                              Mike.Depaoli Pic

      Cut bank slab release from a snowcat. 2023/02/28.

      Imminent roof avalanche. 

     No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

     Sc Sz 1 west aspect. Visibility challenging later in the am.

     No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb. Cornice control.

      Xc (cornice explosive control)  Exlax. Horstman Glacier. 21 holes, 42 Kilos. Vaporized the cornice.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Tuesday was at 06:58 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH Variable breeze at 1860 m. S-1

      08:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 0-5 SE breeze at 1860 m. S-1

      10:00 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 10-15 KPH ESE wind at 2280 m.S-1

      Tuesday February 28, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH North wind at 2180 m. S-1

      14:00 Hrs. -9 Deg C with 0-5 KPH North wind at 1860 m. S-1

      16:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH North breeze at 1860 m.S-1

      18:00 Hrs. -11 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH NE breeze at 2280 m. Ridge building.

Weather Observations for March 1, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -13, Winds were 40-50 KPH SSW--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -12, Winds were 30-35 KPH SSW--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -10, Winds were 15-20 KPH S --Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -10, Winds were 10-20 KPH SSW--Round House

1650 meters       -9, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 4 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 230 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters       -9, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 3 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 161 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters       -8, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was 0, 0.6 mm of precip yesterday.

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 2.1 mm in the precip gauge. 2 cm of new. Base 230 cm.

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

FORECAST:

Dirty ridging for today with some breaks this am??, transitioning to overcast in a Northerly flow aloft. A warm front passes by to the North tonight with light snow this evening in a Westerly flow aloft. Trailing cold front on Thursday. The FL is below surface and should remain there for the day. Periods of light precipitation Thursday with some sunny breaks expected around noon. Ridge top winds around 80-110 KPH Southerly. Dries out in the pm with some flurries. Periods of light precipitation Friday with a weak shortwave trough. Unsettled cool pattern with some precipitation. Ditto for Saturday. Groundhog day Sunday. Overcast with some flurries on Monday. Some models are calling for a mix of sun and cloud and dry weather from Saturday to Monday?? Guesstimates: 8-12 cm by Thursday am, 4-8 cm by Friday am, trace-2 cm by Saturday am, 2-4 cm by Sunday am, 2-6 cm by Monday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/03/01. 05:00 Hrs.

              Dirty ridging this am, into pm. Aleutian low sends warm front this evening, cold front tomorrow.

      Dirty ridging with light precipitation arriving this evening.

      Northerly flow aloft today transitioning to Westerly tonight.

       Cold front arrives Thursday am. Cool upper low moves down the coast.

      Periods of light precipitation Thursday. May see some noon sunny breaks.

       Low in control, weak shortwave trough for Friday with cool temps.

      Periods of light precipitation Friday with overcast skies.

       Low off the coast, weak impulse on Saturday. Seasonable temperatures.

      Periods of light precipitation Saturday.

      Periods of light precipitation Sunday, overcast. Seasonable temperatures.

      Mostly overcast and dry with some flurries on Monday.

       INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Snowing in the valley Tuesday am.

             Old School! Powder to the People!!

      09:10 Hrs. Very thin cloud with some awesome light snow.

       A few breaks in the am, mostly overcast with light snowfall.

      Thin clouds with morning flurries.

      Obscured skies on Whistler at 13:00 Hrs. Better visibility on Blackcomb.

      Better visibility at Rendezvous, 13:15 Hrs.

      15:30 Hrs. Snowing lightly with obscured skies and limited visibility.

      Snowing S-1 at 16:15 Hrs at 1860 m. 

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

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

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

Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.

Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.

Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Hanging Lake: Feb 28, 2023

Deeeep on Holyburn: Feb 28, 2023

Deeeep on Holyburn-Take 2: Feb 28, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

At least his skis followed: Air Jordan

Skier Accidental: Tuckermans Ravine

Chased Down: On his heels

Big Air: Splat

ARTICLES:

Snowmobiler's death is Colorados 7th avalanche fatality so far this season: CAIC

TCSAR stays busy before the week's end: Wyoming

Photo shows rare avalanche in Southern California on Mount San Jacinto: Yahoo News

The Wind Tunnel--A new frontier in snow research: Switzerland

IIOJK authorities issue avalanche warning for Ganderbal Area: Kashmir

Experts warn of avalanche danger in Colorado: CAIC

El Nino event signal getting stronger for 2023!: Severe Weather Europe

What goes into avalanche forecasts: Colorado

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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 28, 2023

       AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      Body of snowmobiler recovered Feb 27, 2023. La Manga Pass avalanche. Article below. CCSAR Pic

      An avalanche has killed a soldier on Kebnekaise Mountain, SE. 2023/02/21 Article below. 

     Nc (natural cornice release) Sz 1.5 Vista Bowl 2023/02/27.                          Steve Whittall Image

       Avalanche mitigation on Whistler produced some Sz 1 wind slabs Xe, Xc. A few Sz 1.5 Xc.

      Xe Whistler Peak Monday am.

      Powder burns top right from avalanche mitigation Flute Monday.

     Avalanche control on Blackcomb with limited results. A Sz 1 & Sz 1.5 Xh, Xe. storm slabs.

      Xe Blackcomb Bowl Monday am. Powder burn on Whiplash.

      Old dry loose from Sunday.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise was at 07:00 Hrs Monday am. -16 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH South wind at 2280 m.

     08:00 Hrs. -13 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH ESE breeze at 1860 m.

      10:00 Hrs. -11 Deg C with a 10-15 KPH SE wind at 2280 m.

      Monday February 27, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH NNW wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. -8 Deg C with a 0-5 Variable wind at 1860 m.

      16:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH South wind at 2280 m.

Weather Observations for February 28, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -12, Winds were 15-20 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -10, Winds were 30-40 KPH ESE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters     -11, Winds were     0-5 KPH SSW --Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -11, Winds were   5-10 KPH NE--Round House

1650 meters     -10, 3 cm in 12 Hrs, 3 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 234 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters     -10, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 163 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters       -4, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was 0, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 3 cm of new snow. 1.9 mm. Base 234 cm.

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

FORECAST:   

The lingering low will send periods of light snow today in a Southerly flow aloft. The FL is below surface and should remain below or at surface for the day. Snow should ease off by tonight with a weak upper level high bringing dirty ridging for Wednesday. Mostly overcast with the chance of some breaks. Dry and cold until Wednesday night when a frontal band arrives with more snow to the valley. Front moves through Thursday with light snowfall to the valley. Dries out a bit in the pm with some sunny breaks and flurries. Lingering cloud and flurries into Friday. Periods of light snow Friday with another frontal band for Saturday. Unsettled Sunday with a mix of sun and cloud with intermittent snow flurries. Guesstimates: 3-6 cm by Wednesday am, 7-11 cm by Thursday am, 9-13 cm by Friday am, 1-3 cm by Saturday am, 7-11 cm by Sunday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/02/28. 05:00 Hrs.

        Lingering low will bring light snow for Tuesday. Seasonable temperatures.

       Periods of light snowfall Tuesday. 

       Southerly flow aloft.

     Weak upper level ridge for Wednesday with dry overcast skies. Cool in am, seasonable pm.

       Dry Wednesday, frontal band arriving Wednesday night.

       Front pushes through Thursday. Periods of light snow-unsettled in the pm. Seasonable temps.

      Periods of light snowfall Thursday.

       Weak frontal band on Friday from the Aleutian low. Just below seasonable temps.

      Periods of light snow Friday.

       Periods of light snowfall Saturday.

     INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Late upload!

      Morning lenticular clouds.

      7Th Heaven was busy!

      Enjoying some Monday Pow.

     There were times the visibility was challenging. JC in the am.

      Very nice snow!!

      Mount Cayley.

      Showcase T-Bar was just a bit busy!

      Powder to the People!

     Became overcast with light flurries around noon.

      Very overcast later in the pm.

      Thin upper cloud with rising valley cloud in the pm.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

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

Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.

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

Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.

Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Lizzie Creek: Feb 27, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Powder: Japan

Skate Sharp: Serious Edging

Keeping the nose up: Sled Wheelie

Night operation's-searching for Avalanche Victim: Switzerland

ARTICLES:

A soldier has been killed in an avalanche on Kebnekaise Mountain: Sweden

Body of snowmobiler buried in La Manga Pass avalanche recovered: Colorado 

Body of snowmobiler found 2 days after avalanche: Southern Colorado

Four burials, two deaths, one missing in San Juan Avalanches: Colorado

Avalanche experts demonstrate snow stability tests to gauge avalanche risk: Colorado

State could be soon using new avalanche forecasting model: Colorado

US 189 closed as crews clean up avalanche near Deer Creek Reservoir: Utah

French Hospital inundated with 80-100 ski accidents per day: France

      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.