March 16, 2023

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      An avalanche on Paulina Peak, Oregon has killed a snowboarder. Article below.           Net Pic

      Considerable avalanche danger in the Southern Interior <click.                                Glen Peck Image

      Large roof avalanche in Ketchum, Idaho. High avalanche warnings in parts of Idaho.

      Work in progress clearing Hwy on Mono Lake, California.                                Caltrans Pic

       An avalanche in the French Resort Tignes. Video in the clip section below.    Andri Ragettli Pic

      Minimal avalanche control on Blackcomb. Xe testing in PCT. 

      Sz 1 Xe Boxing Day. 5-10 cm 4F wind slab on top of F.

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler produced some Sz 1-1.5 Cornice and windslab results. 

      Xe, Xc, Sc produced above results. 1 Cornice blast produced Sz 2.5 cornice debris.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

     Sunrise Wednesday was at 07:26 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH SSW breeze at 1860 m.

 

      08:00 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 15-25 KPH SSW wind at 1835 m.

     10:00 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 10-20 KPK SSW wind at 2280 m.

      Wednesday March 15, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 10-20 SW wind at 1835 m.

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

     16:00 Hrs. 

      Overcast at 19:30 Hrs. -1 Deg C in the valley.

Weather Observations for March 16, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -11, Winds were 15-20 KPH ESE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters       -9, Winds were 15-25 KPH ESE--Whistler Peak

1860 meters       -9, Winds were     0-5 KPH E--Rendezvous  

1835 meters     -10, Winds were   5-10 KPH N--Round House

1650 meters     -10, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 243 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters       -9, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 165 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters       -6, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +5.6, 0.6 mm of precip yesterday.

      As of 06:00 Hrs this am we have 0 cm of new snow. Base 243 cm.

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

FORECAST:

A broad upper ridge will bring mostly sunny skies and some high cloud in a Westerly flow aloft. Cool nights and warm mid day temperatures. The FL is below surface this am, spiking to 1500 m with day time heating dropping back to below surface tonight. Mostly sunny on Friday as the ridge strengthens. Still some cloud in the mix. Saturday will be mostly cloudy with sunny breaks with warm temperatures. Overcast for Sunday as a front slowly moves down the coast. Flurries possible in the pm with the brunt of the frontal band arriving Sunday night. The front intensifies Monday with light/moderate precipitation and moderate winds. Unfortunately it looks warm. Guesstimates: 0 cm by Friday am, 0 cm by Saturday am, 0-trace by Sunday am, 2-5 mm by Monday am, 8-12 mm by Tuesday am.

      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/03/16. 05:00 Hrs.

       Dirty ridging with mostly cloudy skies. Warm.

      A dry Thursday.

      Westerly flow aloft.

       Ridge strengthens Friday with warm temps.

      Dry and sunny Friday.

        Ridge flattens Saturday with warm temps. Mix of sun and cloud.

      Dry Saturday with cloud spilling into the area.

        Frontal band arrives Sunday with light precipitation and warm temps.

      Overcast with some flurries during the day Sunday, light precip Sunday night.

      Active frontal band for Monday with light/moderate precipitation. Above average temps.

     INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Mostly blue early am.

      It is only 09:30 Hrs.

      Awesome light early am.

       Early skier gets the pow. Fallers Pillow.

      Two snowboarders hiking up Poop Chutes around noon Wednesday. Look up!!!!                         MC PIC

       Lingering and building cloud in the am.

      Some great conditions on Franz's Meadow.

      High quality snow conditions.

      Brief flurries at 13:45 Hrs. 1860 m.

      Mix of sun and cloud in the pm.

     Became overcast by 16:45 Hrs.

FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

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.

Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet

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

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Seymour: March 15, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Nice flip: Great Snow Conditions

Seems like the thing to do: Mountain Art

Snowboarding: Tahoe

Just ski faster than the: Avalanche

Recent avalanche in Ski Area: Tignes

ARTICLES:

A snowboarder has died in an avalanche on Paulina Peak: Oregon

Man survives avalanche near Cooke City, catches it all on camera: Montana

Caltrans update on Mono Lake Road avalanches: California 

Avalanche danger for most of Montana: High

Avalanches, hazardous conditions close multiple canyons: Utah 

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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 15, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      Series of fatal avalanches in Switzerland. Article below.                  Col des Gentianes

     A man has died in an avalanche in Nandaz, Switzerland. Article below.     Valais Police Pic

      An avalanche has killed a ski tourer on Mount Thabor in The French Alps. Article below.  Net Pic

      Avalanches bury Hwy 395 through Mono County, CA. Article below.              CDT Image

 

      Avalanches have blocked Big Wood River near Hailey, Idaho. Article below.       SAC Pic

     Sz 1.5, Sr Zoa-Coquihalla. Click>MIN Report.                           cameronmcintosho5 Pic

      Avalanche mitigation on Whistler Tuesday produced Sz 1-1.5 storm slabs and cornices, Xe, Xc, Sc. 1 Sz 2

      Some AC on Blackcomb. Loose Dry Xe on Chainsaw. 10-15 cm soft slabs.

     Natural avalanche (Na) lower disease ridge, cornice nose fell, dry loose Sz 1.

      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise was at 07:28 Hrs. -10 Deg C with a 15-30 KPH SE wind at 1860 m. S-1

      08:00 Hrs. -12 Deg C with a 40-50 KPH South wind at 2280 m.

 

     10:00 Hrs. -9 Deg C with a 10-30 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m. S-1

      Tuesday March 14, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. -7 Deg C with a 10-30 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m. S-1

     14:00 Hrs. -6 Deg C with a 40-55 KPH South wind at 2280 m. S-1

     16:00 Hrs. -7 Deg C with a 10-20 KPH ESE wind at 1835 m. S-1

Weather Observations for March 15, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     -11, Winds were 30-35 KPH SW--Horstman Hut

2180 meters     -10, Winds were 40-50 KPH SW--Whistler Peak

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

1835 meters       -8, Winds were 25-35 KPH S--Round House

1650 meters       -7, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 4 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 248 cm--Pig Alley

1570 meters       -6, 1 cm in 12 Hrs, 3 cm in 24 Hrs. Base 170 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters        0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.6, 1.1 mm of precip yesterday.

Some extra Info--Showcase T-Bar not operating today. Glacier Creek Restraunt is closed.

      As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have 2 cm of new snow. 0.8 mm in precip gauge. Base  248 cm.

      As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility. S-1

FORECAST:

Departing weak cold front will transition to unsettled weather with a mix of sun and cloud this am in a Southwesterly flow aloft. Chance of some isolated flurries this early am. The FL is around 800 m and could spike to 1200 m with day time heating, dropping back to surface tonight. Ridge builds for Thursday with a mix of sun and cloud, morning fog and some cloud development. Ridge strengthens for St Paddy's Day with sunny skies and warm temperatures. Ridge flattens and shifts East on Saturday with cloud spilling in from offshore. Overcast and dry. Overcast and dry Sunday am into the early pm, weak frontal band arrives later in the pm with light precipitation. Still on the warm side. Weak front continues into Monday with precipitation dissipating by the later pm. Overcast skies for Tuesday. Guesstimates: 0-trace by Thursday am, 0 cm by Friday am, 0 cm by Saturday am, 0 cm by Sunday am, 2-6 mm by Monday am, 1-4 mm by Tuesday am.

      GOES IR Image from this am.

      WINDY IMAGE 2023/03/15. 05:00 Hrs.

       High pressure building on Wednesday. Cool temps.

       Cloudy Wednesday am with a chance of some convective flurries, unsettled & dry by the pm.

      Southwesterly flow aloft.

       Ridge strengthens Thursday. Lingering cloud and fog will be in the mix. Unsettled. Warmer.

      Dry with some cloud on Thursday.

               Ridge shifts slightly East, Sunny skies on Friday. 

      Dry and sunny Friday.

       Low pushing high on Saturday, cloud will spill onto the coast. Overcast and warm.

      Clouds moving in but dry on Saturday.

      Overcast Sunday, weak front arriving in the pm. Still on the warm side.

      Low will continue to bring periods of light precipitation Monday. Slightly cooler.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Thin cloud in the am, snowing nicely to the valley.

      Snowing lightly at 10:00 Hrs.

      Peak Chair was loading at 10:25 Hrs. 

      Windy image from same time frame as above.

      Snow quality has been very good.

      Awesome snow Tuesday am. The daily refresh cycle has been good!

      Heading for the tree skiing.

      As of 14:00 Hrs 2023/03/14 we received 2 cm from 06:00-14:00 Hrs. Base 250 cm.

      In the past week we have had 56 cm of new snow recorded at 1650 m.

      Lower Disease Ridge in the pm.

      Free ride comp in Diamond Bowl drew a crowd.                                                           GT Pic

      Downloading into the mid mountain cloud. 16:30 Hrs. Convective activity difficult to estimate.

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FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Travel and Terrain Advice

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

Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet

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

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

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

Skiing from Taylor Meadows: March 14, 2023

SHORT CLIPS:

Ruch Block explains the problems in: Switzerland

Avalanches on Hwy 395: West Shore Mono Lake

Snowboarder triggers slab: Avalanche

Snow Biking: Drone Footage

Sending it: Air Jordan

Big Air: Snow Biking

Large Avalanche: Kananaskis Area

ARTICLES:

A ski tourer has been killed in an avalanche close to Mount Thabor: France

28-yer-old Dutchman dies in an avalanche inn Nandaz: Switzerland

Fatal avalanches after last storm: Switzerland

French Alps on alert after a series of deadly avalanches: Europe

Avalanches closes Hwy 395 through Mono: California

Avalanche piles snow, debris beneath Bridal Veil Falls: Utah

Cat skier details deadly Upper Weber Canyon Avalanche: Utah

Another 'Significant' Atmospheric River is drenching California: Flooding

Wyoming officials prioritize avalanche education as more snow attracts backcountry users: Get Informed

Avalanches are blocking the Big Wood River near Hailey: Idaho

      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.