Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog: March 2, 2021

YESTERDAY:

Sunrise Monday was at 06:55 Hrs. -6 with a 15-20 KPH South wind at 2240 meters.

Thick moist clouds in the valley.

Decent visibility in the am.

Ripping it up in the Bowling Alley.

Patches of blue in the am.

Blowing hard at the Roundhouse. Gusting up to 60 KPH. 100-120 KPH at the Peak of Whistler.

. Alpine lifts were closed by 13:45 Hrs on Whistler, Seventh Heaven as well!!

Monday March 1, 2021. 14:00 Hrs. -2 with a 15-60 KPH NW wind. +6 in the valley.

Satellite image from same timeframe as above image.

Snowing at 14:30 Hrs at 1860 meters.

Weather Observations for March 2, 2021 taken at 06:00 Hours.

2240 meters -11, Winds were 15-20 KPH S--Horstman Hut

2180 meters -9, Winds were 25-40 KPH SE--Whistler Peak
1860 meters -8, Winds were 10-20 KPH SE --Rendezvous

1835 meters -8, Winds were 10-25 KPH SE--Round House

1650 meters -7, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 22 Hrs, Base 248 cm --Pig Alley
1570 meters -6, 2 cm in 12 Hrs, 2 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 180 cm--Catskinner

660 meters -2, Valley Temp, Max temp Yesterday was +6.0, 1.5 mm of precip yesterday.

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

FORECAST:

Unsettled weather today with a mix of sun and cloud in a Westerly flow aloft. Chance of a few showers this am but the pattern remains relatively dry for most of the day. The FL could go as high as 800 meters, dropping back down below surface tonight. Wednesday will be overcast with a few breaks possible in the late afternoon. May see a shower around noon, but very isolated and unlikely. A cold front arrives around daybreak on Thursday with periods of light to moderate snow expected with strong winds and warmer temps. Could see the FL go up to 1500 meters but more on that as we get closer. You get the picture-wet, warm & windy. Low will make landfall and bring more precip with a lowering FL on Friday. Dries out by Saturday with unsettled weather. Guesstimates: 0-trace by Wednesday am, 0-trace by Thursday am, 30-40 cm above 1500 meters by Friday an, 20-25 cm by Saturday am.

GOES IR image from this am. Another split flow.

Unsettled weather for today with weak onshore split flow. Seasonal temps.

Weak upper trough with a dry air mass for Wednesday.

Wet, warm, and windy in a Southerly flow aloft for Thursday. FL hopefully stays below 1500 m.

. Low will be sending some moisture our way into Friday. Cooler by Friday evening.

AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:

. No new avalanches observed on Whistler.

No new avalanches observed on Blackcomb.

From Sea to Sky avalanche advisory:

Avalanche Summary

No new reports since Saturday when natural and human triggered avalanche activity quieted down but cornices continued to be reactive to explosives size 2-2.5. Minor pinwheeling was observed on steep solar aspects in the afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

20 cm of recent snow overlies a variety of old surfaces including facets, spotty surface hoar in wind sheltered areas around treeline, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and a rain crust below 1500 m. Recent wind of varying direction has blown this snow into wind slabs on a variety of aspects.

A weak layer buried in mid-February is composed of a crust, facets or spotty surface hoar depending on elevation/aspect, and is now down 50-80 cm. There have been no recent avalanches reported on this layer. Large triggers, such as an avalanche in motion, cornice fall, or intense loading from snow, wind and/or a rapid rise in temperature could awaken these deeper weak layers.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.

INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:

Where are the free avalanche awareness tours?