Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog: January 19, 2021

YESTERDAY:

First light on Ipsoot.

Making snow early Monday morning.

Lower East Rainbow Ridge.

First up Showcase T Bar.

Awesome day for those who enjoy the park!!

Whiplash.

Monday January 18, 2021. 14:00 Hrs. 0 Deg c with a 5-10 KPH NNE wind. 0 in the valley.

Next full moon is January 28, 2021.

Sunset was at 16:41 Hrs on Monday

Weather Observations for January 19, 2021 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters -4, Winds were 30-40 KPH E--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -5, Winds were 40-50 KPH S--Whistler Peak
1860 meters -1, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE --Rendezvous

1835 meters 0, Winds were 20-35 KPH SSW--Round House

1650 meters -1, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 226 cm --Pig Alley
1570 meters -2, 0 cm in 12 Hrs, 0 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 163 cm--Catskinner

660 meters -2, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +3.1, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

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

FORECAST:

High pressure aloft will bring a mix of sun and cloud this am in a North Westerly flow aloft. A very weak frontal band will bring cloudy skies with some flurries this afternoon. Cloudy but dry on Wednesday as a weak high pressure rebuilds. Thursday will start off cloudy with some sunny skies by the afternoon. At this time Friday is looking sunny as well. No snow expected until Sunday. Guesstimates: 0-2 cm by Wednesday am, 0 cm by Thursday am, 0 cm by Friday am.

GOES IR image from this am.

Unsettled weather for today with some flurries this afternoon. Warm air from the high.

Cloudy weather for Wednesday with weak ridging but mid level cloud.

Ridge remains in control with unsettled weather for Thursday..

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

An avalanche has killed a skier in Verbier, Switzerland. Article below. Net Pic

An avalanche has killed at least one person in Dombay Resort, Russia. Article below. Net Pic

Multiple avalanches have killed 7 people in the past three days in Switzerland. Articles below.

Several avalanche deaths in France. Articles below. This image from Vosges. Net Pic

No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb.

Cornice control on Whistler yesterday produced Sz 2 Xc Glacier Bowl. Went over the Saddle run.

Old debris from last week in Lower Poop Chutes.

Old fracture line upper Poop Chutes.

Still many large cornices.

From Sea to Sky Advisory:

Avalanche Summary

A few small wind slab and wet loose avalanches were reported on Sunday and Monday. Explosive control targeting cornices on Friday and Saturday produced size 2 results, some triggering deep slabs on the rocky slopes below.

There has been significant deep persistent slab activity this month. During a widespread avalanche cycle last week, several storm slabs stepped down to deeper weak layers resulting in very large (size 3-4) deep persistent slab avalanches (see these photos from Panorama Ridge). On Jan 9, 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 was up to 200 cm deep and was approximately 200 m wide. See this MIN for photos and more information. A similar avalanche was remotely triggered by skiers on a nearby westerly slope a few days before (see this MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Ski quality in the extensively wind affected alpine has been widely referred to as chalky. Soft snow may be found in sheltered areas around treeline and may overlie a spotty layer of surface hoar. A widespread surface crust exists below 1900 m and on south-facing slopes.

The snowpack is currently quite complex. A layer of sugary faceted grains above a hard melt-freeze crust from early December may be found down 100 to 200 cm. Just over a week ago, 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 has also been identified as the failure layer in sporadic avalanche releases.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

Sastrugi, a way to frequent snow surface lately.