YESTERDAY:
Sunrise Sunday was at 07:12 Hrs. -7 with a 15-45 KPH SE Wind.Where were all the people?
2240 meters -9, Winds were 25-30 KPH SW--Horstman Hut
1860 meters -6, Winds were 10-15 KPH S --Rendezvous
1570 meters -5, 3 cm in 12 Hrs, 3 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 206 cm--Catskinner
FORECAST:
A weak broad upper trough will bring unsettled weather early this am in a North Westerly flow aloft. A ridge of high pressure will push in by the afternoon with more sun than cloud, with sunny weather later in the afternoon. There is a chance of some convective flurries in the transition period as well. The FL will hover in the 800-1000 meter range dropping to surface tonight. Unsettled weather for Tuesday morning with an increase in cloud cover as the next front moves into the area for Early Wednesday am. Light precip for Wednesday morning with an overcast drying trend by the afternoon. The ridge rebuilds for Thursday with a mix of sun and cloud. The unsettled pattern will last into Saturday with an increase in cloud Saturday afternoon as the next frontal band arrives for Sunday. Guesstimates: 0-trace by Tuesday am, 4-8 cm by Wednesday am, 2-4 cm by Thursday am, 0 cm by Friday am.
AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:
A cornice collapse/avalanche has killed a snowmobiler in California. Article below. SAC ImageFrom Sea to Sky avalanche advisory:
Avalanche Summary
Storm slabs were actively growing throughout the day on Sunday and will continue to grow overnight. While we do not yet have any field reports at the time of publishing, it is likely some of these slabs were becoming reactive later in the day. Some natural avalanche activity is possible overnight, but then as the weather clears on Monday the main concern will be human triggered slabs in the top 20-40 cm of snow.
On Saturday there were a few reports of small size 1 storm slab avalanches from the previous storm as well as some large explosive triggered cornice falls.
Snowpack Summary
Sunday's storm will deliver 15 cm of fresh snow around Whistler and up to 40 cm further west and south. Strong southwest wind will form extra deep deposits at upper elevations. This will bring recent storm totals to 40-80 cm, which sits above a widespread melt-freeze crust (except on high elevation northerly aspects). Recent observations suggest the snow has bonded well to these old interfaces. The lower snowpack is well bonded, although a spotty early season facet layer deep in the snowpack could return as a problem later in the season.
Remember that cornices along ridgelines are large at this time of year and always have the possibility of failing naturally or from the weight of a human.
INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:
Cornices continue to grow.Very droopy.
FROM SEA TO SKY MIN REPORTS:
Vantage Ridge: March 20, 2021
Vantage Ridge: March 20, 2021
Equinox-Ski Cut Wind Slab: March 21, 2021
Oboe Trees: March 21, 2021
Hanging Lake: March 21, 2021
Red Heather: March 21, 2021
VIDEOS:
Checking new snow stability: Montana
Powder Picker March 21, 2021: David Jones
ARTICLES:
A snowmobiler has died after a cornice collapse/avalanche: California
New details show snowmobiler fell 900 feet to death: California
Huge avalanche buries skier: Austria
Avalanches sweep ski tourers away: Austria
Numerous avalanche involvements after new snowfall: Austria
Missing skier & snowboarder rescued from gully near Cypress Ski Area: NSSAR
Big St. Joe avalanche case study Part 2: Montana
Submit your best avalanche photo for a pair of Goggles March 1-31, 2021. Sea to Sky Area.
Thanks to Volkl Canada for sponsoring.
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