Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog: February 9, 2021

YESTERDAY:

Sunrise was at 07:35 Hrs Monday. -15 with a 10-15 KPH NNW wind at 2240 m. -23 wind chill.

Triconi Monday am.

Stratus layer moved in quickly.

Stratus layer dissipated and lifted as the day progressed.

Lifting clouds.

Isolated convective flurries throughout the afternoon.

Monday Feb 8, 2021. 14:00 Hrs. -13 with a 5-10 KPH ENE breeze. -5 in the valley.

Satellite image from Monday afternoon.

Yes there were good turns to be had.

Surprisingly awesome turns to be had.

Sunrise was at 17:18 Hours on Monday.

Weather Observations for February 9, 2021 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters -16, Winds were 15-25 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -14, Winds were 5-10 KPH SW--Whistler Peak
1860 meters -14, Winds were 5-10 KPH SE --Rendezvous

1835 meters -14, Winds were 0-5 KPH SSW--Round House

1650 meters -15, ?0 cm in 12 Hrs, trace in 24 Hrs, Base 248 cm --Pig Alley
1570 meters -15, trace in 12 Hrs, 1 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 180 cm--Catskinner

660 meters -12, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was - 3.4, 0.0 mm of precip yesterday.

Will update ASAP.

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

FORECAST:

Unsettled weather for today with cold dry conditions in a Northwest flow aloft. The FL will remain well below surface. Unsettled this morning with a mix of sun and cloud, should see some sunny breaks by noon. Cloudier later this afternoon as a weak disturbance moves down the coast with periods of very light snowfall into Wednesday am. The pulse of moisture is short lived with the Arctic ridge rebuilding with unsettled weather and cold temperatures into Thursday, the cold ridge strengthens Thursday with frigid temps and sunny skies into Friday. More periods of light precip with seasonal temps into early next week. Guesstimates: trace-3 cm by Wednesday am, 0 cm by Thursday am, 0 cm by Friday am.

GOES IR image from this am.

Arctic air embedded in the area with dry cold weather.

Northerly flow aloft.

Small disturbance slides down the coast Wednesday am with some flurries. Unsettled Wednesday.

Cold sunny weather for Thursday.

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

An avalanche has killed a snowbiker in Washington State. Article below. Net Pic

An avalanche has killed two ski mountaineers in Italy. Article below. Net Pic

Lone skier on Krakatoa Monday am, cut out a Sz 1 that went down to the traverse.

Lets sluff out the people heading into the backcountry.

What ever happened to the 'Do not ski above people in avalanche terrain'??!!

Extensive dry point release cycle in the am.

Sz 1 point releases on both Whistler & Blackcomb on Monday.. No other avalanches observed.

Steep east aspect.

Very active in the am.

PMa--Pine Marten accidental? PMc?

Pinwheeling on South exposures in the am/pm.

FROM SEA TO SKY AVALANCHE ADVISORY:

Avalanche Summary

Recent skier triggered wind slabs have been limited to size 1. Explosive control work conducted prior to the weekend produced size 2 cornice and storm slab avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs on a variety of aspects are likely beginning to facet and lose cohesion in the cold temperatures. 50-100 cm of 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. Under the current conditions, it has been unreactive.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS: