YESTERDAY:
Sunrise Saturday was at 06:44 Hrs. -5 with a 15-35 KPH SE wind.2240 meters -9, Winds were 40-60 KPH S --Horstman Hut
1860 meters -7, Winds were 5-15 KPH SSW --Rendezvous
1570 meters -5, 5 cm in 12 Hrs, 6 cm in 24 Hrs, Base 213 cm--Catskinner
FORECAST:
An offshore cold low will send a weak cold front into the Whistler area in a Southerly flow aloft. We can expect periods of light snow with mostly overcast conditions with a few breaks. Looking like unsettled conditions later in the afternoon with the FL rising to around 800 meters. The low drifts to the South on Monday ushering in a dry week with unsettled weather for Monday morning with sunny skies expected for Monday afternoon. Unfortunately we are going to go into next week with no or very little precipitation. Weak ridging will bring another unsettled day on Tuesday with a mix of sun and cloud. Ridge strengthens on Wednesday with sunny skies. Guesstimates: 5-10 cm by Monday am. 0 cm until next Monday? Time will tell.
AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:
From Sea to Sky avalanche advisory:
Avalanche Summary
Explosive mitigation on Saturday produced numerous large cornice and storm slab avalanches, with 50-100 cm crown depths. Explosives also released a very large (size 3) wind slab avalanche on a northeast aspect above 2000 m on Friday.
Reports indicate that a natural avalanche cycle occurred during the storm on Friday, with small to large (size 1-2.5) avalanches releasing in the storm snow across aspects and elevations. Check out this MIN report from Hanging Lake.
Snowpack Summary
Another 15-25 cm of snow is forecast to accumulate by midday on Sunday above 1000 m. This will add to the 50-80 cm of snow that blanketed slopes above 1600 m on Friday. The recent snow has been accompanied by strong south winds, forming touchier slabs on leeward slopes. Pay attention to how wind has redistributed snow and investigate the bond of the new and old snow interfaces as you travel in the backcountry on Sunday. Massive cornices exist on ridgelines, which can act as triggers on slopes below. A cooling trend over the weekend is expected to settle and strengthen lower elevation slopes that became saturated with rain.
In isolated areas with a shallower snowpack in the region, a layer of facets, spotty surface hoar, and/or crusts buried in mid-February may still be preserved. There have been no avalanches reported on this layer; however, large triggers, such as an avalanche in motion, cornice fall, or intense loading from snow and wind have the potential to this deeper layer in areas where it may still exist.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.
INFORMATION & OBSERVATIONS:
Avalanche rating yesterday in the Sea to Sky was Considerable.FROM SEA TO SKY MIN REPORTS:
Below Hanging Lake: March 5, 2021
Chief Pascal Trees: March 6, 2021
Equinox Slid: March 6, 2021
Chuting Gallery: March 6, 2021
VIDEOS:
Powder Picker March 6, 2021: David Jones
ARTICLES:
An avalanche hits a school killing one person: Kamchatka
Avalanche Testimony in criminal case could have chilling effect: Colorado
Two wet slab avalanches observed in the Teton Forecast area: Wyoming
The cause and risks of avalanches in Norway: What you need to know
It was a men's world-Until Mary Clayton Broke into it: Inspiring Women
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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