Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog: February 4, 2021

YESTERDAY:

Ipsoot early morning light.

Excellent snow was fun to turn in.

Spectacular morning.

Snow was better on some aspects.

Speed Kiter on Blackcomb Glacier.

Wednesday February 3, 2021. 14:00 Hrs. -6 with a 5-15 KPH SW wind. 0 Deg C in the valley.

Tracks on Cowboy Ridge.

Blackcomb Peak Wednesday afternoon.

Clouds were moving in from the South.

Weather Observations for February 4, 2021 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters -9, Winds were 30-35 KPH SE--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -9, Winds were 40-50 KPH SE--Whistler Peak
1860 meters -7, Winds were 15-25 KPH SE --Rendezvous

1835 meters -6, Winds were 10-25 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters -5, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 264 cm --Pig Alley
1570 meters -5, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 192 cm--Catskinner

660 meters 0, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +2.1, 12.5 mm of precip yesterday.

As of 07:00 Hrs this am we have overcast skies, variable visibility and it is snowing lightly.

FORECAST:

An upper warm front will bring periods of light precip to the area today in a North Westerly flow aloft. The FL will rise from surface to around 1000 meters. Front will pass through early Friday morning with unsettled weather for the early am, ridge rebuilds for sunny skies by daybreak. Clouds will filter back in later in the day with another frontal band bringing periods of light precip early Saturday morning. Should see a break around noon with another weak frontal band pushing in Saturday afternoon. More light precip for Sunday with some unsettled weather by the afternoon. Guesstimates: 4-8 cm by Friday am, 2-6 cm by Saturday am, 2-6 cm by Sunday am, 1-4 cm by Monday am.

GOES IR image from this am.

Upper warm front slides down the coast today with light precip, warmish!

North Westerly flow aloft will bring precip from the Gulf of Alaska.

More moisture coming from the North West on Friday.

Groundhog day Saturday, cooler temps.

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

An avalanche has killed three hikers below Bear Mountain, AK. Article below. Net Pic

Rescuers recovered three bodies from avalanche in Colorado. Article below. Net Pic

SE aspect Rhododendron 2100 m taken Wednesday. Al Collis Pic

Older 10-20 cm crowns in steep rocky terrain. North facing. Al Collis Pic

Old Decker Lake. Robert Haroldsson Pic

Avalanche mitigation on Whistler Wednesday produced some Sz 2 Xe Xc. Some Sz 1 storm slabs.

Avalanche debris in West Bowl from Hanging Roll.

Avalanche mitigation on Blackcomb yesterday produced Sz 1.5-2.5 Xh.

Heli Bomb shot Sz 1.5 Krakatoa.

Sz 1 above Blackcomb Glacier

Many loose dry point releases.

Heli Bombing

Sz 2 Xh Bony Basin ran down to designated run.

S turn.

Debris below upper Disease Ridge on Right, debris into bowl on the left.

Natural activity on Parkhurst Ridge.

Na Sz 1 wet loose later in the afternoon, Lakeside.

From Sea to Sky Avalanche Advisory:

Avalanche Summary

Human triggered avalanches are still expected to be easy to trigger in many areas.

There have been reports of numerous size 1-2 natural, human and explosives triggered avalanches every day since Saturday. Many of these avalanches have failed on the recently buried persistent weak layer.

Snowpack Summary

50-100 cm of recent fresh snow sits on a persistent weak layer that consists of facets at upper elevations, surface hoar in sheltered areas, a melt-freeze crust below 1900 m, and a sun crust on south-facing slopes. There could be more than 100 cm on this layer in wind loaded areas.

A crust from early December may be found around 200+ cm deep in the snowpack. In shallow rocky areas, it may still be possible to trigger this layer. In deeper snowpack areas, it appears to be unreactive.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

Early Wednesday morning.