YESTERDAY:
Unsettled in the am.2240 meters -8, Winds were 5-10 KPH S--Horstman Hut
1860 meters -5, Winds were 0-5 KPH S --Rendezvous
1570 meters -4, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 165 cm--Catskinner
FORECAST:
Weak upper level ridge and low moving down the coast will bring mostly overcast skies in a Westerly flow aloft this am. Hopefully it delivers, last one blew through with no goods. Freezing level will hover around 1000 meters with light precip starting around 15:00 Hrs. Precip will turn to flurries before day break on Sunday. An upper level ridge will bring mostly cloudy skies for Sunday with the low still on the edge of the high. Monday the ridge strengthens with sunny skies expected. We may see some more light precip on Tuesday before entering a dry overcast weather pattern. More on that later! Guesstimates: 4-8 cm by Sunday morning, 0 cm by Monday morning, 0 cm by Tuesday am.
AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:
Natural cycle in Poop Chutes from Wednesday's storm.Very active cycle on Wednesday.
Avalanche Summary
Explosive control work targeting cornices on Friday produced results up to size 2. On Wednesday, there were reports of a natural storm slab avalanche cycle up to size 3. There were also several that stepped down to deeper weak layers resulting in very large (size 3-4) persistent slab avalanches. Check out this MIN describing a large cornice-triggered avalanche in the Blackcomb sidecountry on Thursday.
Last Saturday, a large (size 3) avalanche was remotely triggered by skiers on Cowboy Ridge near Whistler. The avalanche occurred on a north to northwest aspect at around 1900 m. The crown ranged reached up to 200 cm and was approximately 200 m wide. Check out this MIN for photos and more information. A similar avalanche was remotely triggered by skiers on a nearby westerly slope a few days before; check out this MIN for more info and photos.
Snowpack Summary
Variable wind effect in the alpine includes scoured windward aspects, sastrugi, hard slab, wind pressed surfaces over lower density snow and isolated pockets of soft snow in sheltered areas above 2000 m. Wind slabs may remain sensitive where they overlie surface hoar in sheltered terrain or a crust on solar aspects. A widespread surface crust exists below 1900 m.
The snowpack is currently quite complex. Layers of surface hoar as well as sugary faceted grains above a hard melt-freeze crust from early December may be found down 100 to 200 cm. Last weekend, several large natural and human-triggered avalanches on this layer occurred, with the hot spots being around the Whistler backcountry.
Near the base of the snowpack, there may be faceted grains above a crust from early-November, which was identified as the failure layer in recent sporadic avalanche releases. At this depth, avalanches are large and destructive.
INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:
Adventure Smart will be at the Bottom of Blackcomb Gondola for Avalanche Awareness Days.LOCAL AVALANCHE CANADA MIN REPORTS:
Paul Ridge: Jan 15, 2021
Gin Peak, Wet snow on crust: Jan 15, 2021
Joffre Shoulder Mellow Lines: Jan 15, 2021
Rohr Tree Skiing: Jan 15, 2021
Face Mountain: Jan 15, 2021
VIDEOS:
Avalanche engulfs skier: France
Large Roof Avalanche: Japan
Powder Picker Jan 15, 2021:David Jones
ARTICLES:
Multiple agencies respond to Jan 9 avy near Whistler: Squamish Chief
Avalanche warnings aired after heavy snowfall: Switzerland
26 year old dies in an avalanche: Switzerland
A ski tourer has been killed in an avalanche in the Jeseniky Mountains: Czechoslovakia
A ski tourer has been killed in an avalanche: Austria
Avalanche obscures hotel in Italy: Weather Channel
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