December 23, 2020

     YESTERDAY:

        Early Tuesday am.

      Ipsoot Mountain.

     Wind affect was obvious from a long distance.

      Busy day in the backcountry.

     Looking at Lower Ipsoot. Na-Natural avalanche activity.

      Tuesday December 22, 2020. 14:00 Hrs. -9 with a 5-10 KPH ESE wind. -3 in the valley.

     Near the end of the day, we are lucky to get some cold temperatures in the valley.

Weather Observations for December 23, 2020 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters      -6, Winds were 20-30 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters      -7, Winds were 15-30 KPH SW--Whistler Peak
1860 meters      -3, Winds were   5-15 KPH ESE --Rendezvous 

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

1650 meters      -8, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 149 cm --Pig Alley
1560 meters      -7, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs,   Base 92 cm--Catskinner

  660 meters      -6, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +1.5, 1.3 mm of precip yesterday.

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

FORECAST:

Upper ridge will bring dry weather with mostly cloudy skies for today in a Westerly flow aloft. We may see a few sunny breaks. The freezing level will likely rise to 1200 meters with some warm air aloft. Similar day expected for Thursday with a bit more sun. Low will bring some more snow to the area for Christmas Day into Boxing Day. Guesstimates: 0 cm by Thursday am, 0-trace by Friday am, 5-10 cm by Saturday am, 5-10 cm by Sunday am.

      GOES IR image from this am.

       Low to the NW will send cloud our way today with some warm air aloft.

         High pushes back a bit more Thursday with a few more sunny breaks. Warm air aloft.

        Low will send periods of light snow for Christmas Day.

    

     AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

      Skier accidental, Sapphire Bowl. MIN Report below.

      Skier involvement on the way to the Guides Notch. MIN report below.

      Backside of Mount Currie. Na Sz 2.

      Sa on Feather Tree.

     Avalanche control on Blackcomb produced Sz 1 ssl with Xh. Some Sz 1 Sa from yesterday.

      Sa Sz 1.

      Avalanche control on Whistler produced some Sz 1 Xe Xc. 1 Sz 2.5.

From the Sea to Sky Advisory:

Numerous wind slab avalanches were triggered naturally and by riders on Tuesday. The occurred on southerly aspects due to recent north wind. They most occurred at alpine and treeline elevations.

The latest observed avalanche on the weak layers described in the snowpack summary occurred on December 19, where a few large avalanches were triggered by riders and explosives. They occurred on northerly aspect in alpine terrain (2100 m) and were generally 30 to 50 cm deep.

      INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

      Sastrugi in the alpine.

      Natural cycle from last storm Sz 1-Sz 2

      Small Sz 1 Sa on DOA.

      Parapenter enjoying the day.

     Obviously a nice day to be flying around.

      Surface hoar will be growing in these conditions.

      Just before sunset Tuesday. The cold full moon will be on Dec 29, 2020.

LOCAL AVALANCHE CANADA MIN REPORTS:

Shovelnose Cut Blocks: Dec 22, 2020

Sapphire Bowl: Dec 22, 2020

Skier triggered at Guides Notch: Dec 22, 2020

Suns Out-South Coast: Dec 22, 2020

Rainbow SW: Dec 22, 2020

VIDEOS:

Powder Picker Dec 22, 2020: David Jones

ARTICLES:

CVSAR assist snowmobilers, avalanche risk a factor: Mount Washington

Nevada snowmobiler killed in Wyoming avalanche identified: Suicide Hill

Officials urge caution after hundreds of avalanches: Colorado 

False alarm avalanche rescue deploys helicopter and dozens of volunteers un Summit County: Colorado