20 May 2023

May 20, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      Appa Glacier area, more recent cornice collapse.                                                             AC Pic



      Sz 2 Cornice debris, no slab pulled out. ?72 Hrs old. Up in the Ryan Area.                          AC Pic 




      No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb. Alpine closed due to lack of snow.


      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Friday was at 05:20 Hrs. +7 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH SE breeze at 1860 m.


      08:00 Hrs. +9 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH ESE breeze at 1860 m.


     10:00 Hrs. +11 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH East wind at 1860 m.


      Friday May 19, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +13 Deg C with a 2-6 KPH SW breeze at 1835 m.


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

      16:00 Hrs. +13 Deg C with a 5-15 KPH NE wind at 2280 m.


     21:30 Hrs. +9 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH NNE puff at 2280 m.



Weather Observations for May 20, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     +8, Winds were 25-30 KPH S--Horstman Hut
1860 meters     +8, Winds were 10-15 KPH SE--Rendezvous  
1650 meters     +8, 0.1 mm in 12 Hrs, 0.1 mm in 24 Hrs. Base 137 cm--Pig Alley
1570 meters     +9, 0.0 mm in 12 Hrs, 0.0 mm in 24 Hrs. Base   39 cm--Catskinner
  660 meters     +9, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +27.9, 0.2 mm of precip yesterday.


High Friday at 2280 m was +14.9 Deg C at 18:15 Hrs. 
High Friday at 1860 m was +17.3 Deg C at 18:15 Hrs.


      As of 06:00 Hrs 0.0 mm of precipitation. Base 137 cm at 1650 m.


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


     

FORECAST:

Dirty ridging will bring a mix of sun and cloud for today in a Southwesterly flow aloft. The FL is hovering around 3500 m and will likely go back up to 3800 m with daytime heating. Dirty ridging for Sunday with the chance of an afternoon isolated shower in the mix. Low will begin to cool down the airmass by Sunday night into Monday am with seasonable temperatures. Periods of light precipitation on Monday with a mix of sun and cloud. Unsettled Tuesday am with increasing cloud cover and periods of light precipitation. Mix of sun and cloud for Wednesday into Thursday with seasonable temperatures. Guesstimates; 0 mm by Sunday am, 0-trace by Monday am, 2-6 mm by Tuesday am, 1-4 mm by Wednesday am, trace-2 mm by Thursday am.


      GOES IR IMAGE from this am.


      WINDY IMAGE 2023/05/20. 05:00 Hrs.


        Dirty ridging for Saturday with a mix of sun and cloud. Above average temperatures.


      No precipitation for Saturday.



      Southwesterly flow aloft.



        Dirty ridging for Sunday with a mix of sun and cloud.m Possible showers in the PM. 


      Chance of some convective showers in the afternoon on Sunday.


        Weak upper level trough, dirty ridging brings an unsettled day with clouds, sun, showers.


Low brings an unsettled day Monday with mix of sun, cloud, and periods of light rain. Seasonable temps.


        Upper trough will bring cooler temps, periods of light precipitation on Tuesday.


       Low will bring some rain with sun and cloud in the am on Tuesday, overcast and rain in the pm.


      Dirty ridging for Wednesday, mix of sun and cloud.


      Dirty ridging Thursday with a mix of sun and cloud. Seasonable temperatures.


      INFORMATION AND OBSERVATIONS:

      Mix of sun and cloud Friday am.

      09:20 Hrs upload Friday. More bikers than skier/snowboarders.

      Cumulus cloud development in the am.


      Horstman Creek coming down by the Bite.


      There is a lot of melt coming off the Horstman Glacier.


       Cumulus clouds kept building as the day progressed.

      Watering the grass under the Accelerator Chair.

      Fast snow in the am.

      Pyroclastic Mountain.


      Grass is growing in the valley, fertilizer helps!!

      Park City Chairlift in Whistler. Zoom in left side of the enormous chair.

      Not much snow on Wedge for this time of the year!!


      Might feel that way this weekend.



      There has been a lot of melting going on!!!



      Green Lake is full!!!

     Big Log in Fitzsimmons Creek.

      Season quickly coming to an end.


      Lost lake at sunset, which was at 20:57 Hrs.



FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Backcountry Avalanche Advisory – Sea to Sky

Avalanche Canada advisories are done for the season. Advisories are typically available in fall, winter and spring (October – April). Please check back in Fall 2023 for Whistler and the Sea to Sky region advisories. If you're heading into the mountains this spring, learn more about assessing spring conditions.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

No new MIN reports as of 07:00 Hrs.


SHORT CLIPS:

Jump Fail: Ouch

Flying Low: Wow

Sending it down the: Stairs

Look Ma: No hands



ARTICLES:

All Melt, No Freeze: Avalanche Canada

Complications arise in the West as early heat wave causes snowpack to melt rapidly: ABC News

11 more temperature records broken, one tied in B.C, as sizzling days fizzle out: Global News

Hurley Road: Open


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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  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. 


19 May 2023

May 19, 2023

      AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      An avalanche on Jungfrau Peak in the Bernese Alps has killed a Polish Alpinist. Article below.


      No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb Thursday.

      Lots of old avalanche activity on a recent flight to Bella Coola.                                        LT Pic



      WEATHER YESTERDAY:

      Sunrise Thursday was at 05:21 Hrs. +10 Deg C with a 0-5 KPH East puff at 2280 m.


      08:00 Hrs. +10 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH SE breeze at 1860 m.

      10:00 Hrs. +13 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH SE breeze at 1860 m.


      Thursday May 18, 2023. 12:00 Hrs. +14 Deg C with a 10-20 KPG SE wind at 1835 m.

      14:00 Hrs. +15 Deg C with a 5-10 KPH WNW breeze at 1860 m.


      16:00 Hrs. +12 Deg C with a 30-45 KPH SSW wind at 2280 m.


      21:30 Hrs. +10 Deg C with a 10-25 KPH SE wind at 1860 m.





Weather Observations for May 19, 2023 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2280 meters     +7, Winds were 10-15 KPH S--Horstman Hut
1860 meters     +7, Winds were   5-10 KPH SE--Rendezvous  
1650 meters     +7, 0 mm in 12 Hrs, 0 mm in 24 Hrs. Base 144 cm--Pig Alley
1570 meters     +9, 0 mm in 12 Hrs, 0 mm in 24 Hrs. Base   47 cm--Catskinner
  660 meters   +10, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +27.9, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.


High Thursday at 2280 m was +13.5 Deg C at 17:45 Hrs. High at 1860 m was +16.5 Deg C at 16:30 Hrs.

09:15 upload on Excalibur Lift.


      As of 06:00 Hrs 0.0 mm recorded at 1650 m. Base 144 cm.

 As of 07:00 Hrs we have broken cloud and unlimited visibility. Cooler should be some crust recovery.


     

FORECAST:

Dirty ridging this am with a mix of sun and cloud in a Southerly-transitioning to Southwesterly flow aloft. The FL has dropped to around 3200 m and will likely rise to around 3800 m with daytime heating. Still above average temperatures until Monday. Dirty ridging for Saturday am with a mix of sun and cloud, ridge strengthens in the pm with sunny skies and above average temperatures. Dirty ridging for Sunday with the chance of some pm showers with convective cloud development. Low moving into the zone as the High weakens. Unsettled Monday with a mix of sun and cloud and periods of light rain. Mostly overcast Tuesday with some periods of light precipitation. Guesstimates: 0 mm by Saturday am, 0 mm by Sunday am, 0-1 mm by Monday am, trace-2 mm by Tuesday am.


      GOES IR IMAGE from this am. Coastal stratus layer.



      WINDY IMAGE 2023/05/19. 05:00 Hrs.


       Ridge of high pressure for Friday, mix of sun and cloud. Above average temperatures.

      Some cloud in the mix but no precipitation on Friday.



      Southerly to Southwesterly flow aloft.


   Dirty ridging Saturday am with a mix of sun and cloud. Sunny pm. Above average temperatures.


      No precipitation on Saturday. Mix of sun and cloud in the am, sunny in the pm.


          Dirty ridging on Sunday, mix of sun and cloud. PM Showers. Slightly above average temps.



      Mix of sun and cloud, convective showers possible in the pm on Sunday.



       Weak shortwave trough for Monday with cooler temperatures and periods of light precip.


      Clouds will move in on Monday with periods of light precipitation. Seasonable temperatures.


      INFORMATION AND OBSERVATIONS:

     08:30 Hrs. Smoke looks to be dissipating slowly on Thursday.

      Upload out of the village Thursday was at 09:15 Hrs.


      Skiing to the valley is done. Too much walking! It is closed for a reason!


      Horstman Creek Waterfall pumping and melting the surrounding snowpack..

      Some smoke around in the am, but Southerly flow eventually cleared it out.

      Much nicer air in the pm.

       Running out of snow on the Catskinner Road from Springboard.



       Cumulus Clouds in the afternoon, felt some drops on a bike ride in the pm.



      Fitzsimmons Creek was pumping Thursday afternoon.

      Horstman Creek was pumping.


      Awesome turns to be had in the am.


     Standing water on Cloud Nine!


      Snow melting everywhere at an astonishing rate!

      Early bird gets the turns.





FROM AVALANCHE CANADA:

Backcountry Avalanche Advisory – Sea to Sky

Avalanche Canada advisories are done for the season. Advisories are typically available in fall, winter and spring (October – April). Please check back in Fall 2023 for Whistler and the Sea to Sky region advisories. If you're heading into the mountains this spring, learn more about assessing spring conditions.

LOCAL MIN REPORTS:

No new MIN Reports as of 07:00 Hrs.



SHORT CLIPS:

Big Line: Serious Sluff Management

Cliff Party: Sending It

Jump Turns on: Belay

Skiing/skateboarding: Trick



ARTICLES:

Polish climber dies in an avalanche on Mount Jungfrau 2023/05/18: Switzerland

Everest 2023-A deadly and record breaking season: Nepal

Melt Freeze Metamorphism: Cooler Temperatures



      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  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.